VDot News - September 14

BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS TO MIDDLEBROOK LOOP COMPLETE



STAUNTON – The Virginia Department of Transportation has finished a two-mile shoulder improvement for the Bicycle and Pedestrian Middlebrook Loop on Route 603 and Route 677 in Augusta County in June 2007.



The Middlebrook Loop is approximately 9.5 miles long on Route 876, Route 602, Route 677, Route 603 and Route 252.



“The improvements were done to a narrow road that had one paved lane and very wide gravel shoulders that forced automobiles onto the shoulders in the face of oncoming traffic,” said Augusta County Board of Supervisors Chair Nancy Sorrells. “By paving the shoulders, the safety of motorists was improved as well.”



The Central Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Pedestrian Committee, which was created about three years ago, did a bicycle plan for the entire region (Rockingham, Augusta, Rockbridge, Highland and Bath counties), according to Bonnie Riedesel, director of planning. This committee, which was appointed by local government, identified 42 routes in the entire region to focus on improvements for bicycle and pedestrian use. The committee identified and named each of the 42 routes, which is how the Middlebrook Loop was created.



Committee Chairman Lee Hersch emphasized that all improvements will be made to existing roadways in order to allow all forms of transportation to safely share the road.



This is in line with VDOT’s statewide policy to provide framework to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians with motorized modes during the planning, funding, design, construction, operation and maintenance of the roadway network.



“We studied more than half of the 42 routes this summer,” said Riedesel. “VDOT loaned us an intern to take field measurements of these routes. Middlebrook Loop is the first route we studied in May.”



Once Middlebrook Loop was studied, a recommendation to widen the shoulders was submitted to VDOT by the committee. VDOT approved this recommendation in June 2007, which resulted to paving two miles of shoulder.



“The newly established partnership between VDOT and the regional bicycle pedestrian committee has been a win-win experience,” said Sorrells. “It is also safer for motorists and the additional pavement makes it easier for farmers to maneuver their wide equipment along narrow country byways.”



Future activities for the committee include acquiring funding for bicycle safety signage such as “Share the Road.”



“We have a grant submitted to VDOT where we have applied for funds to do a study to find where in our region would be appropriate for the “Share the Road” signage or safety signage,” said Riedesel.



Motorists are reminded to use extreme caution when traveling through work zones. For further information on the location of work zones throughout the state, call the Highway Helpline at 1-800-367-ROAD. Traffic alerts and traveler information can also be obtained by dialing 511. In areas where 511 is unavailable, dial 1-800-578-4111. TTY/TDD users can call 711 to obtain these services. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at 511Virginia.org.


TRAFFIC ALERT FOR WEEK OF September 17-21, 2007

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.

AUGUSTA COUNTY

Interstate 64

* Mile marker 93 – Alternating lane and shoulder closures at the underpass on Route 834 (Chickory Hill) due to cleaning and painting bridge 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday with flagger traffic control.



Interstate 81

* (NEW) Mile marker 205 to mile marker 237 – Mowing with the left lane closed.

* Mile marker 205 to 237 – Debris pickup Wednesday, Sept. 19.

* Mile marker 214 to mile marker 218 – Paving with one lane closure southbound from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Friday.



Primary Roads

* (NEW) Route 11 – Mowing in the Verona area.

* Route 11 – Debris pickup from Staunton City limits to Route 647 Wednesday, Sept. 19.

* Route 250 – Minor delays due to trucks entering from Route 636 between Route 637 and Route 358 Monday through Friday.

* (NEW) Route 262 – Mowing in the Verona area.

* Route 262 – Debris pickup from I-81 to Route 11 Wednesday, Sept. 19.

* Route 285 – Debris pickup from I-64 to Route 250 Wednesday, Sept. 19.

* Route 340 (Rosser Avenue) – Trucks entering from work site from Route 608 to Route 1501 for paving with flaggers and work during daylight hours Monday through Friday.



Secondary Roads

* (NEW) Route 604 – Tree trimming from Route 701 to the Rockbridge County line Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* Route 608 – Tree trimming from Route 935 to the Rockbridge County line Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* Route 608 – Debris pickup from Route 340 to I-64 Wednesday, Sept. 19.

* Route 613 (Old Greenville Road) – Ditch work from Greenville Farm Lane to Loch Drive with the southbound lane closed during construction Monday, Sept. 17 through Friday, Oct. 5 with flagger traffic control.

* (NEW) Route 620 – Tree trimming from Route 11 to Route 252 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* Route 631 – Drainage improvements and road alignment for the construction of a turn lane at Route 285 and Route 608. Flagger traffic control with estimated completion mid-October 2007. Motorist should be aware of new traffic pattern.

* Route 636 – Shoulder closure east and west due to road widening from Route 285/1377 Monday, Sept. 17 through Friday, Sept. 28.

* Route 647 – Debris pickup from Route 11 to Route 648 Wednesday, Sept. 19.

* Route 648 – Debris pickup from Route 647 to Route 608 Wednesday, Sept. 19.

* (NEW) Route 652 – Tree trimming from Route 608 to the end of state maintenance Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* (NEW) Route 658 – Tree trimming from Route 657 to Route 608 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* (NEW) Route 662 – Tree trimming from Route 608 to Route 693 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* (NEW) Route 671 – Tree trimming from Route 11 to Route 620 Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* (NEW) Route 726 – Tree trimming from Route 252 to the Rockbridge County line Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* Route 730 – Grading and drainage work with alternate lane closures from Route 756 to Route 761 with flagger traffic control Sunday through Saturday.

* (NEW) Route 750 – Patching between Route 256 and Route 11 Monday, Sept. 17 and Tuesday, Sept. 18 with one lane closure.

* (NEW) Route 775 – Patching between Route 11 and Route 774 Wednesday, Sept. 19 and Thursday, Sept. 20 with one lane closure.

* Route 785 – Grading and drainage work with lane closures using flagger traffic control through Friday, November 2, 2007.

* Route 797 – Grading and drainage work with lane closures from Route 608 to Route 796 with flaggers Sunday through Saturday.

* Route 823 – Trucks entering from work site and installing a sewer line from Route 1620 to the dead end Monday through Friday.

* Route 834 – Cleaning and painting bridge with alternating lane and shoulder closures Sunday through Saturday and work from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with flagger traffic control.

* (NEW) Route 842 – Tree trimming from Route 608 north to Route 608 south Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* (NEW) Route 849 – Tree trimming from Route 608 to the end of state maintenance Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* (NEW) Route 853 – Tree trimming from Route 11 to the end of state maintenance Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* Various Roads – Machining non-hard surface roads in the Verona area, mowing, shoulder repairs, brush cutting and patching. Surface treatment Monday through Monday, Sept. 24 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. with flaggers and pilot truck controlling traffic.





HIGHLAND COUNTY
Primary Roads

* Route 250 ( Bullpasture Mountain ) – Ditching.



Secondary Roads

* Route 606 – Paving with one lane traffic using flagger traffic control.

* (NEW) Route 614 ( Cowpasture River Road ) – Patching from Route 250 (Highland Turnpike) to the West Virginia line north.

* (NEW) Route 637 – Pipe replacement with one lane traffic using flagger traffic control.

* Various Roads – Mowing. Surface treatment with flaggers and pilot truck traffic control Monday through Monday, Sept. 24 from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.