| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Chuck Lionberger 540-387-5493 saleminfo@VDOT.Virginia.gov |
SAL-153 Jan. 4, 2005 |
VDOT PLANS SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS FOR ROUTE 220
SALEM The Virginia Department of Transportation is planning short-term safety improvements at various locations on Route 220 in Roanoke City, Roanoke County, and Franklin and Henry counties. In recent years, citizens and VDOT engineers have raised concerns about safety on this heavily traveled roadway between I-81 and North Carolina.
Currently, there are no on or off-ramps for drivers to use in accessing or leaving Route 220. This lack of access control combined with increasing traffic volumes, especially truck traffic, contributes to those safety concerns. In response, VDOT engineers suggest a series of spot improvements. These improvements are not a major reconstruction of Route 220 and are anticipated to be completed within the existing right of way. VDOT has budgeted $8.3 million to make these safety improvements on Route 220.
The first phase of this project is set to begin in the summer of 2005 with an estimated cost of $3.5 million. These spot improvements include:
building additional turn lanes
upgrading or closing crossovers
installing new, upgraded guardrail
adding dynamic message signs to provide incident information to motorists.
VDOT plans to add turn lanes in each direction to some crossovers on Route 220 as a safety improvement. Adding turn lanes provides drivers with an area to safely wait to turn, away from fast moving, through traffic. Some crossovers on Route 220 have medians that are too narrow for turning vehicles to safely wait for traffic to clear.
Eliminating crossovers is another proposed safety improvement. At a typical crossover, there are 32 potential points for drivers to collide when making turn movements. Twenty-four of those points can be eliminated with the closing of a crossover. It is safer for drivers to use crossovers with turn lanes, rather than crossovers without turn lanes. VDOT engineers used criteria to identify crossovers to close on Route 220 and then looked at the sections of the road with the greatest potential for disruption of traffic flow.
VDOT plans to upgrade 38,725 feet of existing guardrail at locations in Franklin and Henry counties. Upgraded guardrail will have improved beginning and end terminals and meet todays construction standards.
VDOT is considering installing four dynamic message signs on Route 220 that provide drivers with real-time information about incidents and road conditions during traffic delays.
Click here for more on the current safety improvement plan, including a listing of locations for additional turn lanes, proposed crossover closings, and locations for new dynamic message signs.
(PDF file - Adobe Acrobat required - get it here)
During a series of citizen information meetings in early January, VDOT is also seeking input from the community to identify additional safety improvements.
(END)
Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.
Currently, there are no on or off-ramps for drivers to use in accessing or leaving Route 220. This lack of access control combined with increasing traffic volumes, especially truck traffic, contributes to those safety concerns. In response, VDOT engineers suggest a series of spot improvements. These improvements are not a major reconstruction of Route 220 and are anticipated to be completed within the existing right of way. VDOT has budgeted $8.3 million to make these safety improvements on Route 220.
The first phase of this project is set to begin in the summer of 2005 with an estimated cost of $3.5 million. These spot improvements include:
VDOT plans to add turn lanes in each direction to some crossovers on Route 220 as a safety improvement. Adding turn lanes provides drivers with an area to safely wait to turn, away from fast moving, through traffic. Some crossovers on Route 220 have medians that are too narrow for turning vehicles to safely wait for traffic to clear.
Eliminating crossovers is another proposed safety improvement. At a typical crossover, there are 32 potential points for drivers to collide when making turn movements. Twenty-four of those points can be eliminated with the closing of a crossover. It is safer for drivers to use crossovers with turn lanes, rather than crossovers without turn lanes. VDOT engineers used criteria to identify crossovers to close on Route 220 and then looked at the sections of the road with the greatest potential for disruption of traffic flow.
VDOT plans to upgrade 38,725 feet of existing guardrail at locations in Franklin and Henry counties. Upgraded guardrail will have improved beginning and end terminals and meet todays construction standards.
VDOT is considering installing four dynamic message signs on Route 220 that provide drivers with real-time information about incidents and road conditions during traffic delays.
Click here for more on the current safety improvement plan, including a listing of locations for additional turn lanes, proposed crossover closings, and locations for new dynamic message signs.
(PDF file - Adobe Acrobat required - get it here)
During a series of citizen information meetings in early January, VDOT is also seeking input from the community to identify additional safety improvements.
(END)
Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.
Page last modified: Jan. 4, 2005
