Marty Gordon
Motorists are being advised to plan extra time for their daily commutes and travel as several road projects in our area will affect everyone over the next few months.
Bridge work along Interstate 81 near the intersection of Route 8 and Main Street in Christiansburg currently includes temporary signal lights.
One of the most prominent, but temporary, changes is at the intersection of Route 8 and Interstate 81 where work is underway to replace aging highway bridges.
Commuters have noticed temporary signal lights at the Exit 114 location.
According to Jason Bond, a spokesman from the Virginia Department of Transportation, those lights are only temporary to allow control of traffic as the Interstate 81 bridges are replaced, but VDOT staff are evaluating whether the lights should be located there on a permanent basis.
“For now, they are temporary, but we are examining if there needs to be signal lights at that location on a longer-term basis,” he said earlier this week.
But, according to Bond, that could be a long time down the road.
“We’re talking millions of dollars for a permanent signal light project, and right now it’s not on the table,” he said.
Again, the lights will be used on a short-term basis as the bridge project continues. “That’s their purpose for right now,” Bond said.
The lights are scheduled to be removed once the bridge replacement is completed.
Construction also continues to affect traffic in and around the downtown area of Christiansburg.
The North Franklin storm drain project consists of realigning a portion of storm drain that currently flows under local businesses. The purpose of this project is to eliminate stormwater impact and reduce the potential for flooding in the area.
Construction is expected to take 12 weeks during which time N. Franklin Street will be closed to through traffic and motorists must follow the detour around the road closure. The closure barricades have been placed near Graham Street and extend roughly 500 feet down the street toward the intersection of Depot Street.
Business access to the areas outside of the barricade but within N. Franklin Street between Main Street and Depot Street will be maintained.
This project is a separate project from the current sewer work being done on N. Franklin Street. This storm drain work will begin as soon as the sewer work near the intersection of N. Franklin Street and Depot Street concludes.
Another project nearby affecting motorists in Christiansburg is the N. Franklin Street Corridor Improvements Project, which will increase accessibility for pedestrians, includes ramp modifications to Route 460-Business, traffic signal modifications, access management and pedestrian enhancements, new turn lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes, street lighting and signalized crosswalks.
That project will create a new traffic pattern by realigning the intersection of Cambria Street and N. Franklin Street.
According to a release from the town of Christiansburg, the exit from US-460 Business will be removed from the existing N. Franklin Street and Cambria Street intersection.
A traffic signal will integrate traffic from US-460 Business with traffic exiting the US-460 Bypass before it reaches the intersection of Cambria Street and N. Franklin Street.
The project will also replace several entrances onto N. Franklin with one signal-controlled entrance near Patrick’s Way and Oak Tree Boulevard.
This will also provide access to a new, town-maintained service road that aligns with Oak Tree Boulevard and extends between the Food Lion Shopping Center and the Christiansburg Recreation Center.
According to the town, sidewalks will be built along both sides of N. Franklin Street. Those on the east side of N. Franklin will connect to the sidewalks at Independence Boulevard and sidewalks on the west side will connect with the Huckleberry Trail.
Construction on the $8.5 million project is expected to last into early summer of 2020.
Work also continues on the Falling Branch Intersection Improvements Project, which will consolidate shopping center entrances and add a traffic signal at this intersection on Roanoke Street.
Construction is expected to continue through fall 2019, with final completion of the project scheduled by the end of the year. During this time, there will be temporary lane closures, but there is no anticipated need for detours, as traffic should be able to navigate through the intersection throughout construction.
The project will replace the two existing entrances to the Gateway Plaza Shopping Center off of Roanoke Street with a new entrance that aligns with Falling Branch Road Southeast. It will also add a dedicated turn lane on Roanoke Street for vehicles entering the shopping center. Additionally, the project will add a traffic signal, storm drainage, sidewalks, curb and gutter, and street lighting improvements.