The following is a list of forecasted highway projects that may impact traffic traveling in the local portion of the12-county Salem Transportation District this week. Work schedules and construction project timelines are always subject to change and weather dependent. New information is noted by “NEW” and updates are noted when a current project has had an update added to the listing. The Salem District covers Bedford, Botetourt, Carroll, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Henry, Montgomery, Patrick, Pulaski and Roanoke counties.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
I-81 NORTHBOUND AT EXIT 105 NEW RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Traffic on northbound I-81 has been switched onto the newly constructed bridge over the New River at the Montgomery/Pulaski County line. The old bridge is being demolished. Lane and shoulder closures may be in place near exit 105. Lane closure may be in effect during the week from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Shoulder closures may be in effect at any time during the week. Slow rolls may be performed on I-81 in the north and southbound lanes from mile marker 98 to 109. Speed limit is reduced to 60 miles per hour in the work zone. Shoulder closures will remain in place though the duration of the project. Project completion is estimated by summer 2023.
ROUTE 8 PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS – Work will soon begin to construct Pedestrian Improvements on Route 8 in Riner. The work zone will begin at the intersection with Route 669 (Union Valley Road) and will end at the current site of the Atlantic Union Bank. Drivers should expect lane closures with flagging operations between the hours of 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through the start of the project until May 24, end of the school year. Once the school year is complete, lane closures will expand in hours to 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Expected completion is late summer 2023.
INTERSTATE 81
I-81 BRIDGE DECK REPAIRS – Weather permitting, crews will repair bridge decks on Interstate 81. Between mile markers 138 to 152, right and left lane closures will be in place northbound and southbound during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays
INTERSTATE 581
ROUTE 581 BRIDGE WORK OVER WILLIAMSON ROAD –Bridge work is underway on Route 11 (Williamson Road). Intermittent and alternating lane closures between the intersections with Rutherford Avenue and Wells Avenue are still possible. Intermittent daytime and nighttime lane closures between the intersections above may still be required utilizing flagging operations. Any impacts to I-581 will be minimal. Expected completion spring 2023.
I-581/220 EXPRESSWAY PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will pave, patch and repair pavement on various routes. Lane closures may be in place during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
I-581/220 LANE & RAMP CLOSURES FOR PAVING AND MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS IN ROANOKE COUNTY– Weather permitting, crews will be milling and paving along Interstate 81. Right and left lane closures will be in place along northbound and southbound lanes during nighttime hours. Drivers should expect possible delays.
BLUE RIDGE PARKWAY CLOSURE – The Blue Ridge Parkway will be repairing slope failures and a culvert failure at mile marker 127.9. A 15-mile stretch of the Parkway, mile marker 121.4 to 136, will be closed to all uses including cyclists, pedestrians and drivers. Detour signs to detour traffic around the Bent Mountain section of the Parkway will be in place. Traffic will be rerouted to Route 220 south to Route 419 north to Route 221 south. Traffic traveling north on the Parkway would be reversed. The detour is expected to be in place into2023.
PULASKI COUNTY
ROUTE 709 (BURLEIGH HORTON ROAD) IMPROVEMENTS – A project to widen, resurface and make other general improvements is underway on Route 709 (Burleigh Horton Road) from where the road begins at the intersection with Route 100 (Wysor Road) through the end at the intersection with Route 654 (Old Baltimore Road). Alternating single lane closures will be in place maintained by flagging operations. Tree removal and pipe installation may require intermittent flagging. Expected completion is mid-summer 2023.
