ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, October 17, 1993                   TAG: 9310170038
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: E-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


ROADWATCH

Highway and street projects scheduled this week by area localities and the\ Virginia Department of Transportation:

\ ROANOKE

Fifth Street bridge construction: A new four-lane bridge is being built between Salem and Gilmer avenues. It should be completed by next summer.

\ Hollins Road: Between Orange Avenue and the Hollins Road Bridge, new water lines are being installed, and long traffic delays are anticipated. Because of the construction, Valley Metro's 3C/3D bus route will detour between Liberty and Plantation Roads. Passengers may catch the bus on Liberty Road. The work will continue until late December.

\ Berkley Road: Between King Street Northeast and the Vinton/Roanoke City limits will be closed Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. City crews will be making repairs to the King Street bridge over Glade Creek.

\ Jefferson Street: Between Shenandoah Avenue and Wells Avenue (in front of Hotel Roanoke) will be closed for approximately two weeks beginning Wednesday for the installation of water lines.

\ ROANOKE COUNTY

\ Hunting Hills subdivision improvements: Virginia 1285, 1290, 1291, 1292, 1293, 1294 and 1943 are being upgraded with new drainage facilities and surfaces and grading to enhance sight distances. Work is expected to last until spring.

\ U.S. 11/460 bridge: At the Montgomery County line, the bridge over the Roanoke River and Norfolk Southern railway track is under repair. Speed limit is reduced to 45 mph. Vehicles wider than 9 feet are prohibited. Work to replace the bridge's deck will last until spring.

\ BOTETOURT COUNTY

\ Virginia 605 reconstruction: In Cloverdale, about 1.4 miles of Virginia 605 is being rebuilt from Virginia 601 in Roanoke County to Virginia 654 in Botetourt County. A one-lane bridge will be replaced with a box culvert. Work will continue into the spring.

\ Virginia 642 reconstruction: Near Buchanan, 2.2 miles of Virginia 642 is being rebuilt from U.S. 11 to Virginia 638. Work will continue till late spring.

\ Virginia 11 bridge at Buchanan: The bridge over the James River and CSX Railroad is under repair. Traffic is reduced to one lane. The work will continue until spring.

\ BEDFORD

\ Virginia 122 reconstruction: About 0.4 mile of Virginia 122 is being rebuilt, from 0.5 mile north of the intersection of Orange Street and Longwood Avenue. The new road will be paved with asphalt concrete; the project includes new traffic signals. Work will continue through the end of the year.

\ BEDFORD COUNTY

\ Virginia 43 bridge weight-limit reduction: The weight limit for a bridge on northbound Virginia 43, about 6.1 miles from the Blue Ridge Parkway, has been lowered from 14 tons to 10 tons while repairs are being made.

\ Virginia 221 widening in Forest: From Forest to Lynchburg, the road is being widened from two lanes to five. Two-way traffic has been temporarily routed over the new bridge while construction continues. A stoplight at Enterprise Road is not in use; drivers should watch for stop signs. Work should be completed in December.

\ Virginia 749 road closure: Near Chamblissburg, Virginia 749 is closed between Virginia 24 and 746 to rebuild a bridge. Motorists should use alternate routes. Work should be completed around Oct. 22.

\ CHRISTIANSBURG

\ U.S. 460 Business widening: Westbound U.S. 460 Business is being widened to two lanes from Cambria Street to the western crossover at Palmer Street. Also, the right-turn lane from westbound U.S. 460 Business onto the U.S. 460 bypass is being extended. The project is expected to last about two months.\ MONTGOMERY COUNTY

\ I-81 paving: The northbound lanes of Interstate 81 are being resurfaced, starting at the New River bridge and extending about two miles north. Motorists should expect delays.

\ Virginia 8 paving: Paving on Virginia 8 from Virginia 670 to the Floyd County line will begin this week. This project is expected to last until the end of the month.

\ FRANKLIN COUNTY

\ U.S. 220 widening: The northbound lanes of Virginia 220 will be slightly widened, from the Henry County line extending to three miles north of Rocky Mount. Traffic will be restricted to one lane during the day.

\ Virginia 40 widening: Approximately 1.5 miles of Virginia 40 will be widened slightly. Work will begin at the west town limits of Rocky Mount and extend west. Traffic will be restricted to one lane.



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