In an effort to keep motorists informed, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) provides weekly information about highway construction and maintenance projects in southwestern Virginia. When traveling through highway work zones, use caution and be alert to changes in traffic patterns and slow-moving or stopped traffic.
To help motorists take the guesswork out of travel plans, call VDOT’s 511 or. visit http://www.511virginia.org for real-time traffic information.
Entries with asterisks (***) indicate the listing is new or the status of the project has changed since last week’s traffic alert.
INTERSTATE PROJECTS
***Interstate 81 – truck climbing lanes: The project to add a truck climbing lane to Interstate 81 northbound near mile marker 39 in Smyth County is underway. The roadway shoulder will be closed during construction. Pay close attention to work zone signs. (Completion: May 2024)
Interstate 81 Exit 17: Be alert to nightly lane closures on Interstate 81 at exit 17 and on Route 75 beneath the interstate as part of the I-81 exit 17 improvement project. The exit 17 project includes improvements to the exit 17 northbound on and off ramps, improvements to a segment of Route 75, reconstruction and relocation of Gravel Lake Road, lengthening the I-81 southbound on ramp, and relocation of the frontage road located adjacent to the northbound exit 17 off ramp. The speed limit is 60mph through the work zone. (Completion: Spring 2023)
I-81 exit 54 southbound ramp extension project (Smyth County): Be alert to a lane shift along exit 54 southbound, from the on ramp to the rest area at Groseclose. The project will extend the acceleration lane to tie in with the rest area deceleration lane. (Completion: Nov. 2022)
Interstate 77 – Exit 64: Motorists should be alert to work underway to improve Interstate 77 at exit 64 in Bland County. The project includes maintenance repairs to the I-77 bridges over Route 61 and Clear Fork Creek and improvements to the exit 64 northbound and southbound ramps. (Completion: May 2023)
I-77 bridges over Cove Creek: Be alert to a project to replace the Interstate 77 bridges over Cove Creek in Wythe County, located about two miles north of Interstate 81 between mile markers 44 and 42. Motorists can expect an altered traffic pattern on southbound I-77 and periodic nighttime lane closures while work is underway. (Completion: early 2023)
***Interstates 81 and 77 maintenance activities: This week, be alert to the following lane closures due to maintenance activities:
Interstate 81
– Day and nighttime bridge repairs northbound near exit 72 in Wythe County. Be alert to a width restriction of 12-feet while the lane closure is in place November 14-18.
– Day and nighttime bridge repairs southbound near mile marker 38 in Smyth County. No wide loads over 14 feet when the work zone is in place.
– A left lane and shoulder closure is needed for slope work northbound near mile marker 41 in Smyth County on November 15.
– Day and nighttime bridge painting northbound near exit 67 in Wythe County. Traffic will be restricted to one, 14-foot-wide lane northbound.
– Day and nighttime bridge deck repairs southbound near mile marker 36 in Smyth County November 13-17. Wide loads over 14-feet are prohibited during the bridge work.
– Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near mile marker 54 in Smyth County.
Interstate 77
– Nighttime lane closures southbound at Big Walker Mountain Tunnel due to tunnel maintenance. When a lane closure is in place at the tunnel, all wide loads over 12-feet-wide must stop before entering.
– Day and nighttime bridge joint repairs southbound near mile marker 41 in Wythe County.
– Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near mile marker 47 in Wythe County and 54 in Bland County.
PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:
Tazewell County
Second Street (Route 67) Bridge over Clinch River in Richlands: Due to a bridge rehabilitation and repair project on Second Street (Route 67) in Richlands, the bridge over the Clinch River is restricted to one lane. The bridge is located west of the intersection of Allegheny Street. (Completion: Nov. 2022)
Route 19: Be alert to daily delays on Route 19 near the Russell/Tazewell County line due to rolling roadblocks associated with blasting work. The work is due to establishing the intersection for Pure Salmon. (Completion: Fall 2022)
Washington County
***Route 58 widening near Damascus: Due to Route 58 construction activities near Damascus, be alert to periodic delays. On weekdays from Tuesday, November 15 through Friday, November 18, Virginia Creeper Trail users and kayakers along the South Fork Holston River will be shuttled as needed around the work zone due to bridge construction. The shuttle is necessary to ensure safety during the staging and setting of bridge beams. VDOT’s Contractor Kanawha Stone will facilitate the shuttle service, using a smaller, Type A school bus for transport. Be alert to flaggers directing trail traffic to the shuttle when it is in operation. The shuttle service is anticipated to occur again in early December. (Completion: May 2024)
Wythe County
Route 619 (Gleaves Road) – bridge closure: Due to a recent bridge inspection, the Route 619 truss bridge over Cripple Creek in Wythe County is currently closed. No timeframe for reopening the bridge has been established to date. Pay close attention to signs and message boards in the area.
Route 619 bridge: Due to replacement of the Route 619 bridge over Interstate 81 exit 84 in Wythe County, motorists should be alert to one-lane traffic controlled by temporary traffic signals across the Route 619 bridge. Be alert to the possibility of slight delays on I-81 due to the bridge work above the interstate. (Completion: Dec. 2023)
