ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: SUNDAY, November 7, 1993                   TAG: 9311070128
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


ROADWATCH

Here are 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.

\ Main Street: A portion of Main Street Southwest between Winona and Brandon avenues is closed for about two months for the installation of a water line. Traffic will be restricted to one lane with workers stopping vehicles alternately in each direction.

\ Hollins Road: Between Orange Avenue and the bridge over the Norfolk Southern tracks, new waterlines are being installed, and long traffic delays are anticipated. 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.

Riverland Road S. E: A water line project will cause traffic delays on Riverland Road during the next two months. While only 1/10th of a mile will be under construction at one time, the work will necessitate limiting traffic to one lane in the construction area, with flagmen stopping traffic in one direction at a time.

\ ROANOKE COUNTY

\ Hunting Hills subdivision improvements: Buckhorn Road, Crossbow Circle, Chukar Drive, Archer Drive, Red Stag Road, Elk Hill Drive and Flintlock Road are getting new drainage facilities andsurfaces and are being graded 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 tracks is under repair. Two-way traffic is using the westbound lane while repairs are being made on the eastbound side. 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.

\ Virginia 311: Pipe culverts are being repaired between Virginia 864 and the top of Catawba Mountain. No delays are expected, but motorists should use caution.

\ BOTETOURT COUNTY

\ Virginia 605 reconstruction: In Cloverdale, about 1.4 miles of Virginia 605 are 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 are being rebuilt from U.S. 11 to Virginia 638. Work will continue until late spring.

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

\ BEDFORD

\ Virginia 122 reconstruction: About four-tenths of a mile of Virginia 122 is being rebuilt, from a half-mile 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. Weight-limit signs are posted.

\ U.S. 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 is estimated to be completed in December.

\ Virginia 614 bridge replacement: A bridge over Sheep Creek in the Thaxton area is being replaced, and the road is closed. Work should be completed by the end of December.

\ 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 another month.

\ MONTGOMERY COUNTY

\ 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 another week.

\ Norfolk Southern railroad crossings: The Blount Drive crossing at Elliston will be closed for repairs 2 to 5 p.m. Monday. The Cove Hollow Road crossing in Elliston will be closed for repairs 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday.



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