Vdot news - January 5

TRAFFIC ALERT FOR WEEK OF January 7 - 11, 2008

Highway work zones in the Staunton District



The following is a list of highway work that might affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming weeks. The Staunton district is comprised of 11 counties, Alleghany, Bath , Rockbridge, Augusta, Highland , Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren and Clarke. Work scheduled is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. Also, when traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.


(NEW) _ Indicates a new or revised entry since last week’s report.

AUGUSTA COUNTY

Interstate 64

No activity reported.



Interstate 81

* Various locations – Guardrail installation. Alternating lane and shoulder closures both north and southbound. Night work, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

* Rockbridge County line to Rockingham County line – Northbound and southbound lanes, Debris clean up.



Primary Roads

* Route 11– Debris clean up.

* Route 250 –Trucks entering from Route 636 between Route 637 to Route 358 and from Route 608 between Route 608 to Route 1360.

* Route 256 – Debris clean up.

* (NEW) Route 262 – Debris clean up from I-81 to Route 11 at Verona on Wednesday, Jan. 9.

* Route 275 – Debris clean up.

* Route 340 (Rosser Avenue) – Trucks entering from work site from Route 608 to Route 1501 for utility work with flagger traffic control during daylight hours.

* Route 340 – Debris clean up.



Secondary Roads

* Route 604 – Tree trimming from Route 701 to the Rockbridge County line, daylight hours.

* Route 608 – Tree trimming from Route 935 to the Rockbridge County line, daylight hours.

* (NEW) Route 732 – Machining shoulders from Route 613 to Route 646.

* (NEW) Route 739 ( Moffett Branch Road ) – Intersection of Routes 739 and 741 ( Old Quarry Road ) to 0.75 mile east of Route 875. Closed Tuesday, January 8, 2008 through Thursday, January 17, 2008. Bridge deck replacement. Detour will be as follows: Westbound traffic take Route 741 ( Old Quarry Road ) east to Route 607 ( Mt. Solon Road ) north to Route 42 ( Scenic Highway ) south to Route 739. Eastbound traffic take Route 42 north to Route 607 south to Route 741 west to Route 739. Road Closed and Detour signs will be posted.

* (NEW) Route 775 – Bridge work 1 mile east of Route 900 to 0.05 mile west of Route 608 on Jan. 7.

* Route 903 – Tree trimming from Route 693 to end of state maintenance, daylight hours.

* Route 912 – Tree trimming from Route 610 to Route 660, daylight hours.

* Route 914 – Tree trimming from Route 608 to Route 635, daylight hours.

* Route 1401 – Tree trimming from Route 1402 to Route 1403, daylight hours.

* (NEW) Various Roads – Bridge maintenance, shoulder repairs, brush cutting, pothole patching, and scraping dirt roads.



MULTIPLE PROJECTS AWARDED IN STAUNTON DISTRICT



At its December 13 meeting, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded two projects in the Virginia Department of Transportation Staunton District. The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick , Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren , Page, Rockingham, Augusta , Highland , Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.



General Excavation Inc. of Warrenton was awarded a $3,312,442.35 contract to improve the acceleration lanes on Interstate 81 at exit 307 at Route 277 in Stephens City , exit 315 at Route 7 in Winchester and the Virginia Welcome Center and Safety Rest Area in Clear Brook in Frederick County . The construction will provide a 12-foot paved ramp with 12-foot paved shoulders and a five-foot graded shoulder. The project also includes intersection improvements at Route 522, which is 0.27 miles north of Route 679 near Winchester . A left-turn lane will be built, drainage improved and guardrail will be installed. The project will improve safety in these locations by providing additional merge areas for travelers entering I-81 and providing a dedicated turn lane for left and U-turn traffic on the divided portion of Route 522, just north of Winchester . The project has a fixed completion date of Nov. 1, 2008.



General Excavation Inc. was awarded a $7,674.952.55 contract to construct the Jeremy’s Run bridge on Route 340 in Page County . This bridge will be a replacement for the current structure which is deteriorating. The new 446-foot bridge will be built next to the current Jeremy’s Run bridge. The project including the bridge and its approaches will be .65 mile long. Lanes will be 12-feet wide with four-foot paved shoulders and a 10-foot graded shoulder. A right-turn and a left-turn lane will be constructed for traffic using Route 662 ( Rileyville Road ) located south of the bridge. The left-turn lane will be a center lane on the bridge. The project will be constructed to meet items in a memorandum of agreement with VDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, Page County government and the Scenic 340 Project concerning the protection and historical integrity of the area. The project has a fixed completion date of Nov. 12, 2009.



On December 7, Virginia Department of Transportation Commissioner David Ekern awarded a $697,219.00 project to Fielder’s Choice Enterprises Inc. of Charlottesville for improvements on Route 256 in Augusta County . The project, located in Weyers Cave , extends from .22 mile west of Route 276 to .13 mile east of Route 276. The project will provide a combined left-turn and right-turn lane on Route 256 serving the intersections of Route 276 and Route 750. This center lane will be 12-feet wide. All curb, gutter and concrete ditches will be replaced. The road at Route 276 will have two 18-foot lanes plus the center lane, with curb, gutter and a sidewalk. The intersection will have two sidewalk ramps for handicap access. At Route 750 there will be two 10.5-foot travel lanes plus the center lane with graded shoulders. Route 750 will be widened at this location to help drainage in the area. This project will improve safety in the area by providing a dedicated lane for traffic waiting to turn into these two side roads.



At its November 7 meeting the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $63,060.00 contract to Nu-Valley Fence Co. Inc. of Greenville . This contract will be for fence replacement at selected locations on interstate, primary and secondary roads in Shenandoah and Frederick counties. The contract is for one year with renewal options for the next two years.



Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. In areas where 511 is unavailable, dial 1-800-578-4111. (TTY/TDD users, call 711). Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at 511Virginia.org.



Highway safety is everyone’s responsibility. Virginia’s highway safety partnership — the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Virginia State Police — challenges you to help prevent highway fatalities. Buckle up. Avoid distractions. Share the road. Drive drug- and alcohol-free. Obey speed limits. For more information on the Highway Safety Challenge and things you can do to avoid becoming Virginia ’s next traffic fatality, visit www.safeVAhighways.org.