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ROADWATCH:  Week of Jan. 28 – Feb. 3

The following is a list of highway projects that may affect traffic in the 12-county Salem Transportation District during the next week.  Work schedules are always subject to change.   New information is noted by “###”. VDOT encourages motorists to call 511 or visit www.511Virginia.org for real-time traffic information.

INTERSTATE 81

        * INTERSTATE 81 TRUCK CLIMBING LANE –   As part of the project to build a truck climbing lane on southbound I-81 between mile markers 120 and 125, blasting is scheduled on weekdays, Monday through Friday, at approximately 10:30 a.m.  No blasting is scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays.   Blasting may cause the following traffic impacts:

• Detonation of charges will be scheduled daily, Monday through Friday, between 11 a.m. and noon.
• Southbound I-81 traffic will be detoured off I-81 at exit 132 (Dixie Caverns) onto Route 11/460 and back onto I-81 at exit 118 (Christiansburg).  The detour will be implemented daily sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and will be removed immediately once slopes have been scaled and the road is deemed safe for the traveling public.  State Police will assist with this detour.  A right lane closure will be in place on westbound Route 11/460 during the detour.  On some days, rolling road blocks may be used on southbound I-81 instead of a detour.
• On northbound I-81, a rolling road block starting at mile marker 114 sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. will be used to slow traffic.  During blasting, the on-ramps will be restricted onto northbound Interstate 81 at exit 118 (Christiansburg) and onto southbound I-81 at exit 128 (Ironto).
• Flaggers may control traffic on Route 636 (Seneca Hollow Road and Friendship Road) and on Route 641 (Den Hill Road) during blasting.

###     * INTERSTATE 81 BRIDGE PAVEMENT PATCHING – Weather permitting, nighttime lane closures between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weeknights may be in place on northbound and southbound I-81 in Montgomery and Pulaski counties due to work to repair pavement on various bridges.  Traffic impacts are tentatively scheduled as follows:

• On Tuesday, Jan. 31, a right lane closure on southbound I-81 at mile marker 120.8
• On Wednesday, Feb. 1, a left lane closure on southbound I-81 at mile marker 120.8
• On Thursday, Feb. 2, a right lane closure at mile marker 94 in Pulaski County

###     * INTERSTATE 81 SHOULDER WORK – Weather permitting, nighttime left lane closures may be in place on northbound and southbound I-81 between mile makers 101 and 93 in Pulaski County for shoulder work.   Work is tentatively scheduled for weeknights between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

###     * INTERSTATE 81 BRUSH CUTTING - Weather permitting, daytime shoulder closures may be in place on northbound and southbound I-81 in Botetourt County at various locations around interchanges and bridges due to brush cutting from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on weekdays.

###     * INTERSTATE 81 DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE – Weather permitting, left shoulder closures may be in place on northbound and southbound I-81 between mile markers 110 and 105 in Montgomery County and 147 and 174 in Botetourt County.  Work is tentatively scheduled on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

###     * INTERSTATE 81 SIGN REPAIRS – Weather permitting, right shoulder closures may be in place on northbound and southbound I-81 between mile markers 134 and 147 in Botetourt County due to sign repairs.  Work is tentatively scheduled on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

ROANOKE CITY

###     * INTERSTATE 81 BRIDGE PAVEMENT PATCHING – Weather permitting, nighttime lane closures between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weeknights may be in place on northbound and southbound I-581 in Roanoke and Roanoke County due to work to repair pavement on various bridges.  Traffic impacts are tentatively scheduled as follows:

• On Sunday, Jan. 29 and Monday, Jan. 30, a center lane closure on southbound I-581 at mile marker 0.5
• On Monday, Sunday, Jan. 29, alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound I-581 between mile markers 0 and 6

        * INTERSTATE 581 OVERHEAD LIGHT MAINTENANCE – Crews will be working on overhead lights on I-581 causing nighttime mobile lane closures on weeknights from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m.

ROANOKE COUNTY

* ROUTE 460 SHOULDER REPAIRS – Weather permitting, crews will be repairing road shoulders on Route 460 near Bonsack during daylight hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays.  Watch for slow moving vehicles, short-term lane closures, signs and equipment near

        * ROUTE 221 WIDENING – Work to widen a section of Route 221 in the Back Creek area is under way.  Work may require lane closures between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at various locations throughout the project.  Flaggers will control traffic at times.  The speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph.

###     * ROUTE 11/460 (WEST MAIN STREET) WIDENING – Work to widen a section of Route 11/460 to four lanes is underway in the Glenvar area of Roanoke County.  Periodic lane closures may occur at various locations throughout the project while work is being performed.

Weather permitting, flaggers will be in place and drivers should expect lane closures and major delays on Fridays in the project from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. due to work to install utility pipes across the roadway.  The speed limit is reduced to 35 mph. Work to replace the bridge over Little Bear Rock Branch may cause shifts in traffic patterns on Route 11/460 near its intersection Fort Lewis Church Road.  Barrier wall will be installed on the bridge and both travel lanes are narrowed.  A new traffic pattern is in place at the entrance to Richfield Retirement Community where the speed limit is reduced to 25 mph.  Drivers should be alert to stopped vehicles turning in this area.  Motorists should expect changing traffic patterns, use caution and expect delays in the work zone.  This project will continue until fall of 2013.

        * ROUTE 116 DITCHING – Flaggers may control traffic at times during daylight hours on weekdays due work to clean out ditches.  Expect alternating lane closures on Route 116.

        * UNPAVED ROAD MAINTENANCE– Crews will be working on various secondary non-hard surface roads grading and replacing stone with periodic lane closures during daylight hours on weekdays.  Watch for flaggers controlling traffic throughout Roanoke County.

###     * ROUTE 740 CULVERT INSTALLATION –   Flaggers may control traffic during daytime hours on Route 740 (Carvins Cove Road) in Botetourt County at the Roanoke County due to work to replace a pipe with a culvert.  The road is now open to traffic.  The culvert is located about 0.1 mile from the end of state maintenance.

###     * PAVEMENT PATCHING – Weather permitting, crews will patch pavement or potholes on various secondary roads.  Flaggers may control traffic at times during daylight hours.  Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.  Work is tentatively scheduled on Route 619 (Wildwood Road), Route 668, Route 676 (Back Creek Road), Route 679 (Buck Mountain Road), Route 690, Route 921 (Hofwager Road) and Route 1092.

###     * SHOULDER WORK – Weather permitting, crews will be repairing shoulders and ditches along various roads Roanoke County during daylight hours on weekdays.  Flaggers will control traffic at times.  Work is tentatively scheduled on Route 668 and Route 679.

        * DRAINAGE MAINTENANCE (VARIOUS ROUTES) – Weather permitting, crews will be removing debris/leaves and cleaning out pipes on various secondary roads.  Work is tentatively scheduled on Route 221, Route 619 (Wildwood Road) and Route 622 (Bradshaw Road).   Watch for signs and slow moving vehicles, lane closures and equipment near the roadway.