VDOT News - Bristol

BRISTOL – 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 is 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)

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 lane closures southbound near exit 35 in Chilhowie (Smyth County) from 7 a.m. December 11 through 6 a.m. December 15.
- Nighttime work to finalize cleanup from a crash site southbound near mile marker 42 (Smyth County)
- Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near exit 3 in the Bristol area December 13/14.
- Nighttime bridge deck repairs southbound near mile markers 9, 16 and 23 in Washington County; near mile marker 54 in Smyth County; and near mile marker 68 in Wythe County.
- Day and nighttime lane closures northbound near exit 72 in Wythe Count from 6 a.m. December 12 through 7 p.m. December 16. Be alert to a 12-foot-width restriction when the lane closure is in place.
- Daytime pothole patching north and southbound at various locations in Washington and Wythe counties.
Interstate 77
- Daytime pothole patching north and southbound at various locations in Bland and Wythe counties.
- Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near exit 47 and near mile marker 54 in Bland County.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:
Buchanan County
Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A: Construction of Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A is underway in Buchanan County. Route 604 (Poplar Creek Road) is on a temporary alignment. The Poplar Creek Phase A project created a permanent change for Route 614 (Woods Fork). Access to the north and south ends of Route 614 is via Routes 609 (Bulls Creek Road) and Route 604 (Polar Creek Road), respectively, which connect to Route 460 west of Grundy.

Russell County
***Route 661 (Artrip Road) – bridge inspection: Due to a bridge safety inspection, the Route 661 (Artrip Road) bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad yard in Russell County will be closed December 15 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. (Completion: December 15, 2022)

Scott County
Route 23 bridge over Speers Ferry: Work to rehabilitate the Route 23 bridge over Speers Ferry in Scott County is underway. Lane restrictions were recently removed, however, be alert to periodic, daytime lane closures due to work beneath the bridge. Motorists are advised to use caution in this area. (Completion: July 2023)

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: January 2023)

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 Monday (December 12) be alert to a lane closure in the work zone due to moving of barrier wall. Virginia Creeper Trail users should be alert to the possibility of flaggers directing trail traffic. Trail users may experience periodic delays of 15-30 minutes near the bridge. (Completion: May 2024)

Wise County
***Route 671 (South Fork Road) – slide repairs: Signals are controlling one-way traffic on a portion of Route 671 (South Fork Road) in the Pound area of Wise County due to slide repairs. The repairs are located 0.3-mile from the Kentucky state line. (Completion: December 28, 2022)

Alternate Route 58 bridge rehabilitation: A project to rehabilitate the Alternate Route 58 bridge over the Guest River and Norfolk Southern Railroad in the City of Norton is underway. Use caution in this area and be alert to lane closures. (Completion: July 2023)

***Business Route 23 in Wise: Due to the final utility relocation as part of the Business Route 23 project in Wise, be alert flaggers directing traffic at two locations along Business Route 23 from 7 p.m. Tuesday (December 13) until 7 a.m. Wednesday (December 14). In the event of inclement weather, the work will be performed Wednesday night (December 14-15). The work zones will be located between Route 757 and Wise Gas and one at the intersection of Cherry Street and Business Route 23. Some Town of Wise water service customers will be impacted from 9 p.m. until 7 a.m. Tuesday due to the utility relocation work. Pay close attention to flaggers and allow extra travel time. (Completion: December 2023)

Alternate Route 58 bridge repairs: Bridge repairs are underway on eastbound Route 58 in Wise County at the bridge over Bear Creek in the Norton area. Pay close attention to signs and watch out for workers. (Completion: early 2023)

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)

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.