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

DATE: SUNDAY, November 20, 1994                   TAG: 9411210039
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C9   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

ROADWATCH

ALLEGHANY COUNTY

#Interstate 81: Slope repair work at mileposts 20 and 21. One eastbound lane closed. Guardrail replacement between mileposts 2 and 4. Outside westbound lane closed.

BOTETOURT COUNTY

Alternate U.S. 220: The final 1.8 miles are being expanded to a four-lane divided highway, ending at U.S. 460 in Roanoke County. Motorists should allow extra time to travel through the intersection of Alternate U.S. 220 and U.S. 460 because the existing traffic signal is operating at capacity. A new signal being installed will allow more efficient traffic flow. Work should be completed by spring.

U.S. 220: A 1.4-mile section south of the new bridge near Iron Gate is under construction to eliminate a sharp curve. Work runs from 0.3 mile north of Virginia 696 to 0.2 mile south of the CSX Railroad tracks. Work should be completed this fall.

Virginia 654 (Read Mountain Road): In the Cloverdale area, 1.8 miles are being widened from east of U.S. 11 to Alternate U.S. 220. Motorists should watch for signs and flaggers. Work will continue until spring.

U.S. 11: The bridge over Looney Mill Creek is under repair. Traffic is reduced to one lane, with temporary signals controlling traffic flow. Speed limit is reduced to 35 mph. Vehicles wider than 11 feet are prohibited from about 0.4 mile north of the intersection with Interstate 81 at Exit 162 to just south of the Exit 167 interchange. The first half of the bridge repair is expected to be completed by Jan. 1. During the winter the bridge will be open to two-way traffic. The other half of repairs will get under way next spring.

CARROLL COUNTY

Virginia 100: The road will be resurfaced near Sylvatus.

U.S. 221: The road will be resurfaced in the eastern part of the county.

Virginia 638: The road will be resurfaced south of U.S. 221.

Virginia 713: Near Pipers Gap, a section will be closed for replacement of a bridge starting 0.5 mile north of Virginia 683. Detours are marked. Work should be completed by the end of the year.

Virginia 783: The road will be resurfaced east of Route 100.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Virginia 605: In Henry, the road is being widened from Virginia 606 to 0.7 mile east of Virginia 606. Work will be completed this fall.

Virginia 619: From the Henry County line to Virginia 890, 2.4 miles are being widened and paved. Expect minor delays. Work should be completed by May.

U.S. 220 business (North Main Street): In Rocky Mount, U.S. 220 is being widened to four lanes to the U.S. 220 bypass. Work will last into spring.

Virginia 623: Near Ingramville, the road is being widened and the bridge replaced. Work runs from Virginia 778 to Virginia 605.

#Virginia 783: In Endicott, the bridge over Runnett Bag Creek is being replaced. Detours are marked. Estimated completion is in spring.

HENRY COUNTY

U.S. 58: The 3.3 miles from Horsepasture to Spencer are being widened. Construction will continue through fall. Speed limit has been reduced to 45 mph.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Interstate 81: The bridge at Exit 109 (Virginia 177, Radford) is being painted. There may be temporary lane closures on and below the bridge.

U.S. 460: A third lane is being added to westbound U.S. 460 from the end of the Christiansburg bypass to Virginia 114 at Kmart.

MONTGOMERY/PULASKI COUNTIES

#Interstate 81: Monday and Tuesday, traffic on the northbound bridge over the New River will be reduced to one lane while bridge repairs are made.

PULASKI COUNTY

#Interstate 81: Weather permitting, Exit 94-B on northbound I-81 will be closed Monday and Tuesday for bridge deck repairs. To reach Pulaski, traffic must use Exit 94-A, turn left on the service road, then left on Route 99 north. The on-ramp to I-81 north from Route 99 south also will be closed. To enter I-81 north, traffic must make a U-turn at the service road and enter I-81 north from Route 99 north.

ROANOKE

Wells Avenue: The road is closed from First Street to Commonwealth Avenue for widening.

Pedestrian bridge: Construction is under way on the bridge over the railroad tracks connecting the Hotel Roanoke with First Union Tower.

ROANOKE COUNTY

U.S. 11: Williamson Road (U.S. 11) from Plantation Road one mile north is being widened. A new traffic pattern is in use, with one lane of traffic in each direction. Vehicles wider than 9 feet are prohibited from Plantation Road to Virginia 601.

Virginia 643: The Daugherty Road bridge over Interstate 81 is being repaired. Traffic is reduced to one lane. Motorists traveling to and from Glenvar High School, Glenvar Elementary School and the surrounding area can expect delays. To minimize delays, motorists can use Route 777 (Fort Lewis Church Road).

Virginia 830: Motorists should be alert to construction traffic along U.S. 11/460 near the intersection with Virginia 612, Poor Mountain Road. A new access road is being built at Valley Techpark in west Roanoke County.

Kentland Drive Southwest: The road is closed between Charing Cross Drive and Willow Lane for sewer line replacement. The project will take another week to complete.

ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY

#I-81: Grading, drainage and pavement work under way at all interchanges and crossovers from Exit 195-205. Shoulder closure at various locations. Northbound lane closure at Exit 195 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.