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

DATE: SUNDAY, August 20, 1995                   TAG: 9508210086
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


ROADWATCH

Here are highway and street projects scheduled this week by the Virginia Department of Transportation and by localities. Schedules are subject to change because of weather and contractors.

# Indicates new information.

BEDFORD COUNTY

Virginia 707: Construction is under way to widen and pave Virginia 707 between Virginia 24 and Virginia 43. The project will take six months to complete.

BOTETOURT COUNTY

Interstate 81: The highway is under construction from milepost 147 (Roanoke County/Botetourt County line) to milepost 168. Various lane closings will be in effect in both the north and southbound lanes.

Northbound motorists can tune to 1610 AM, and southbound motorists can tune to 530 AM for information. There will be delays.

U.S. 11: The bridge is being repaired at exit 162 over U.S. 11. Traffic is reduced to one lane. The southbound exit ramp will be closed. Speed limit is reduced to 55 mph.

CARROLL COUNTY

Virginia 722: Construction of a drain has begun at the Cranberry River. Drivers may use Virginia 887 as an alternate.

Virginia 823: Construction of a drain has begun over Elk Spur Branch. Drivers may use Virginia 691 and Virginia 679 as alternates.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

Virginia 652: Closed one-tenth of a mile west of Virginia 625 because of flood damage.

U.S. 220 business (North Main Street): In Rocky Mount, the road is being widened to four lanes to the U.S. 220 bypass.

Virginia 660: Surface treatment under way.

Virginia 802: Surface treatment.

Virginia 832: Surface treatment.

Virginia 853: Surface treatment.

Virginia 861: Surface treatment.

HENRY COUNTY

U.S. 58: The 4.6 miles from Virginia 684 to Spencer are being widened to four lanes. Traffic has been shifted to the new lanes while a bridge is rebuilt. The speed limit is reduced to 45 mph.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

I-81 bridge: Bridge repair has begun 1.72 miles south of exit 98 at Dublin. One northbound lane will be closed.

I-81: Bridge painting is under way at various locations with one lane closed. Work will last until the end of the month.

#U.S. 460: Work is under way to improve the intersection of U.S. 460 (Franklin) and Cambria Streets in Christiansburg. Construction will include a new traffic signal, grading, paving and turn lanes.

Virginia 177: Work is under way to add southbound lanes from I-81 to Radford.

Virginia 685: Work is under way to widen and straighten Virginia 685 (Prices Fork Road) near Blacksburg. Expect traffic delays.

ROANOKE and ROANOKE COUNTY

Virginia 117 (Peters Creek Road): Realigning has begun of intersections at Melrose Avenue, Salem Turnpike and Shenandoah Avenue. Work is being performed along Salem Turnpike.

Pedestrian bridge: Construction is under way on the pedestrian bridge connecting Hotel Roanoke with the First Union Tower. Shenandoah and Norfolk avenues are open. Short delays may occur, and traffic may be reduced to one lane.

U.S. 220 (Roy L. Webber Highway): Traffic is reduced to one lane at night and on weekends. Most of the construction will be between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Lanes are narrowed to two 11-foot lanes in each direction during the day and could be reduced to one lane at night and on weekends. Motorists heading south between Virginia 419 and Wal-Mart are not able to turn left onto Southern Hills Drive. Motorists heading north between Wal-Mart and Virginia 419 are not able to turn left onto Valley Avenue. Drivers can use the frontage road as an alternate. The speed limit, reduced to 45 mph in the construction zone, is strictly enforced. Alternate routes should be considered.

U.S. 11: Williamson Road is being widened from Plantation Road 1 mile north. One lane is open in each direction. The middle, or left-turn, lane has been deleted; a new traffic pattern is in place. The Hollins College entrance and LaMarre Drive are being realigned, and a new signal is being installed. Vehicles wider than 9 feet are prohibited from Plantation Road to Virginia 601.

Virginia 115 (Plantation Road): The intersection of Plantation Road and Virginia 601 (Hollins Road) is being improved by widening a drain, adding turn lanes and installing a traffic signal. Work should be completed by late summer.

#I-81: The bridge between exits 140 (Virginia 311) and 141 (Virginia 419) is being replaced. Pavement will be widened in the median beginning on the northbound side from 10 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. Speed will be reduced to 55 mph.

#U.S. 220: The new signal at the intersection of U.S. 220 and Buck Mountain Road is operating. Be aware of changes in the traffic pattern.



 by CNB