Bristol District Weekly Traffic Alert: September 16 - 22, 2024

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 (NEW) or (UPDATE) indicate revisions since last week’s report.

INTERSTATE PROJECTS

Interstate 81 – widening (Washington County): A project to widen I-81 southbound between exits 10 and 7 in Washington County, as well as widening approximately one mile of northbound I-81 from exit 7 to the north, is underway. Be alert to traffic pattern changes north and southbound. (Completion: November 2025)

Interstate 81 – truck climbing lanes (Washington and Smyth counties): A project is underway to add truck climbing lanes to Interstate 81 northbound at mile marker 32.4 in Washington County and southbound at mile marker 34 in Smyth County. The roadway shoulder is closed during construction. Be alert to temporary lane closures north and southbound. Pay close attention to work zone signs. (Completion: November 2025)

Interstate 81 – Bridge deck repairs near exit 3 northbound (Bristol): Be alert to periodic lane closures due to bridge deck repairs near exit 3 on I-81 northbound. Pay attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: Late September)

(NEW) I-81 Exit 80 - ramp paving: The northbound on and off ramps at I-81 exit 80 at Fort Chiswell in Wythe County will be closed for paving from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday, September 15 and Monday, September 16. Pay close attention to workers, signs and message boards.

Interstate 77 – Bridge replacement (Bland County): Replacement of the northbound I-77 bridge at exit 62, located over Route 606 (Wilderness Road), is underway in Bland County. Be alert to nighttime lane closures. Pay attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: Late 2025)

Interstate 77 - Bridge rehabilitation over Route 52 (Bland County): Be alert to periodic lane closures due to bridge work on I-77 north and southbound at mile marker 54.2 over Route 52. Pay attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: May 2025)

(UPDATE) Interstates 81 and 77 maintenance activities: Be alert to the following lane closures due to interstate maintenance activities:

Interstate 81

• Nighttime paving operations northbound between mile markers 78 and 82 in Wythe County.
• Day and nighttime bridge replacement northbound between mile marker 48 and exit 50 in Smyth County September 16 – 19.
• Nighttime bridge deck repairs northbound near mile markers 51 and 46 in Smyth County and north and southbound near exit 29 in Washington County.
• Nighttime brush removal north and southbound between mile markers 13 and 27 in Washington County.

Interstate 77

• Nighttime bridge replacement northbound from the ramp at the rest area to the ramp to Route 62/61 in Bland County.
• A super load will travel southbound from mile marker 32 to the Virginia/North Carolina line September 16 – 17.
• Nighttime tunnel rinsing north and southbound at the East River Mountain Tunnel. All wide loads over 12 feet must stop before entering the tunnel.

PRIMARY HIGHWAYS AND HIGH-TRAFFIC SECONDARY ROADS:

Buchanan County

Route 632 (Page Drive): A 1.5-mile section of Route 632 (Page Drive) has been closed between the intersections of Route 626 (Chambers Road) and Ballenger Road in Buchanan County. Buchanan Materials is relocating the section of the roadway as part of their coal preparation plant expansion. Pay close attention to detour signs in the area. (Completion: Late Spring 2025)

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A: A temporary road closure is in place for a portion of Route 604 (Poplar Creek Road) due to the construction of Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase A in Buchanan County. Motorists are advised to pay close attention to signs directing traffic around the area while the Route 604 closure is in place through late September.

Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase B: Be alert to a new traffic pattern on Route 460 at Grundy due to the construction of Route 460/121 Poplar Creek Phase B. The traffic change is from Route 460 near Hill Street in Grundy and continues along westbound Route 460 for approximately 0.8 miles to where traffic will merge back onto current Route 460.

Dickenson County

Route 83 bridge repairs: Due to repairs to the bridge located on Route 83 near the intersection of Route 80 at Haysi in Dickenson County, the bridge is closed for approximately 4-5 weeks. During the closure, tractor-trailers and coal trucks will detour using Route 63 to access the Town of Haysi. (Completion: October 2024)

Russell County

Route 687 bridge replacement: Replacement of the bridge on Route 687 over Route 63 in the Dante area of Russell County continues. A temporary access road is still in place through the Roanoke Hill area connecting Route 63 and Route 687. (Completion: October 2024)

Smyth County

Route 11 roundabout: A project is underway to build a roundabout on Route 11 at the intersection of Route 660 (Railroad Drive) in Smyth County, approximately one mile east of Oak Point Elementary School. Temporary traffic signals are in place and will remain active until completion. Be alert to workers and pay close attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: Summer 2025)

Interstate 81 bridge repairs at Bales Lane: Due to repairs to the I-81 bridge over Bales Lane in the Marion area, a portion of the road is closed and a detour is in place. Be alert to signs and message boards. (Completion: December 2024)

Wise County

Route 645 slide and road repairs: Route 645 (Dotson Creek Road) will be closed starting September 10 while crews work to repair a slide area and reconstruct the road. Motorists can detour using Route 704 (Green Hollow Road), Route 640 (Hurricane Road) and Route 691 (Turkey Branch Road). (Completion: November 1)

Wythe County

Progress Park Connector/I-77 Exit 41: Construction of a new 2.3-mile connector road between Nye Road and E. Lee Trinkle Road is underway, providing a direct connection to Wytheville’s Progress Park industrial site.  A 0.3-mile portion of Lover's Lane was closed this Spring and remains closed for the duration of the project. The closed section of Lover's Lane is located 1.6 miles from Nye Road and 0.5 miles from Pepper's Ferry Road. Construction is also ongoing at the I-77 interchange at exit 41 which includes improvements to the NB lanes, NB off-ramp, Nye Road and Peppers Ferry Road. Be alert to construction vehicles, work zone signs and workers in the area. (Completion: November 2026)

Bridge rehabilitation on Route 619 (Gleaves Road) over Cripple Creek: Work is underway to rehabilitate the bridge on Route 619 (Gleaves Road) over Cripple Creek in Wythe County. Be alert to signs and message boards. (Completion: May 2025)

Route 671 (Crigger Road) bridge: Due to an upcoming bridge replacement project, the Route 671 (Crigger Road) bridge in Wythe County has been restricted to one 11-foot-wide lane and a three-ton weight limit. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2024.

(UPDATE) Bridge painting project on I-77 over Route 69 (Lead Mine Road): Be alert to alternating lane closures on Route 69 (Lead Mine Road) in Wythe County due to a bridge painting project for the north and southbound bridges on I-77 over Route 69. Pay attention to signs and message boards. (Completion: September 25)