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VDOT has begun work on Colonial Avenue and Penn Forest Blvd. Emily Flora SWoCo

VDOT is currently detouring traffic in the Colonial Avenue and Penn Forest Boulevard area from route 419 to 221 and then to Colonial Avenue.

Heidi Coy, public affairs manager for VDOT said, "We’ve got a project going there that we will do several things, install a round about there and there is currently a bridge right near the intersection of Colonial Avenue and Penn Forest Blvd. over Mudlick Creek. That bridge will be improved. It will actually be replaced by a pipe.""

Work on the road began on April 28 and the road was closed to thru traffic on June 18. This is only the first phase of the project which will be ongoing this summer and next summer, Coy said.

"The big impacts are going to be that Colonial Avenue will be closed through August 27. At that point the roundabout will be built and useable but not completely landscaped."

During the winter and fall months, Coy said work will continue, weather permitting but the majority of the road work will be done during the summer months.

Coy also said that beginning on June 14, 2010 through July 25, 2010 anothe rportion of Colonial Avenue will be closed by Colonial Place subdivsion. Crews will do some work to straighten curves and sight distance.

"We will have message board out and send out traffic alerts next year," Coy said.

The goal for total completion should be in August 2010 Coy said.

"It should not restrict access to any of the businesses or homes in that area. The detour is under a mile, but there should always be a way to access where people need to go," she said.

This will be the first roundabout in Roanoke County. Within the next month they plan to begin work on the actually roundabout but VDOT is currently completing utility work and work on the storm drain.