| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Joe Vagi 804-371-8304 Joe.Vagi@vdot.virginia.gov (804) 517-2686 cell |
CO-8030 Aug. 26, 2008 |
LANE CLOSURES LIFTED FOR LABOR DAY HOLIDAY WEEKEND
Long-term construction zones will remain in place
The lanes will be open from noon Friday, Aug. 29, until noon Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Long-term construction zones with concrete barriers and orange barrels will remain in place.
Motorists are encouraged to use seat belts. According to the Department of Motor Vehicles’ Virginia Highway Safety Office, in 2007, 61 percent of all persons killed on state roads were not wearing seatbelts.
Motorists should pay special attention in highway work zones and obey posted speed limits.
A person convicted of speeding in a work zone may face up to a $500 fine.
Motorists also should be aware of the Highway Safety Corridors on Interstate 81 in Salem and on Interstate 95 in Richmond and Northern Virginia.
Highway Safety Corridors are sections of the interstates with high crash rates and crash severity, including injuries and fatalities.
Drivers should proceed with caution and obey posted speed limits in the areas.
Motorists who speed, tailgate or drive recklessly could be fined up to $2,500.
The following traffic and traveler services are available to help make motorists’ travels safer and easier:
511 Virginia
511 Virginia is a free one-stop travel information center where motorists can take more control over their travels.
By using 511, they can receive the latest information about road conditions, construction delays and other incidents that will affect their travels.
And, they can personalize the information by choosing to receive updates by phone,
by e-mail, text pager, BlackBerry, PDA or other mobile device or by going on the Web.
Motorists can access 511 Virginia by calling 511 or by visiting the new and improved Web site at www.511Virginia.org. Callers outside Virginia can access 511 Virginia by calling toll-free 1-(866) MY511VA [(866) 695-1182].
VDOT Highway Helpline
Motorists traveling on Virginia’s highways can call toll-free 1-(800) 367-ROAD [(800) 367-7623} to report problems or unsafe conditions on roads, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
VDOT Safety Service Patrols
Safety Service Patrols respond to crashes and help provide traffic control. They also provide basic automobile repair and first aid. The VDOT patrols operate on major highways in the Charlottesville, Frederick County, Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, Roanoke, Shenandoah County, Staunton and Augusta County areas.
E-ZPass
Virginia’s electronic toll collection system is part of the E-ZPass network. E-ZPass customers may use their transponders at toll facilities in:
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- West Virginia
For more information on E-ZPass Virginia, visit www.ezpassva.com.
The following work zones that may pose temporary delays for travelers:
Bristol District
Interstates 77 and 81 overlap – Traffic could be slowed or delayed in this Wythe County area due to high traffic volumes.
I-77 East River and Big Walker Mountain tunnels – Restoration projects at both tunnels could cause delays. VDOT has established a toll-free number, 1-(866)-7-TUNNEL [(866) 788-6635], to keep motorists informed about travel conditions through the tunnel work zones.
Route 19 and 460 bridge project – Because the southbound bridge near Pounding Mill Quarry is being replaced, two-way traffic has been diverted to the northbound lanes.
Fredericksburg District
No lane closures are scheduled between noon, Friday, Aug. 29, and noon, Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Hampton Roads District
No scheduled maintenance will be performed between 5 a.m., Friday, Aug. 29, and 8 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 2.
The area’s High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) (reversible roadway) schedule is as follows:
- HOV-2 restrictions will end on Friday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m.
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HOV reversible roadways will be open to all traffic heading east from Friday, Aug. 29, at 6 p.m., through Sunday, Aug. 31, at 11 a.m.
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HOV reversible roadways will be open to all traffic heading west from Sunday, Aug. 31 at approximately 11:30 a.m., until Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 6 a.m.
- HOV-2 restrictions resume on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at 6 a.m.
Motorists leaving the Outer Banks of North Carolina are encouraged to use the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel to avoid delays often experienced at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel during holiday weekends.
Lynchburg District
U.S. 29 Business, Carter Glass Bridge over the James River – During bridge work, watch for lane restrictions and changes in traffic patterns.
U.S. 501 at Suck Creek near Gladys – During bridge replacement, one lane will be open with temporary signals.
Route 92 Bridge – A popular cut-through in Charlotte and Halifax counties, the Route 92 Bridge over the Staunton River is closed indefinitely.
Route 621 – Bridge is closed indefinitely.
Route 640 at Little Guinea Creek – During replacement, road closed to through traffic.
U.S. 360 over Banister River – One 12-foot-wide lane is open, a traffic signal is in use.
U.S. 29 Business and Route 41 – During reconstruction, be alert to lane closures and changes in traffic patterns.
Route 614 (Route 844 to Route 939) and Route 873 (Route 878 to Route 872) – Roadways are closed for bridge repairs and replacement, respectively.
U.S. 360 West (Route 630 intersection to Route 628) – During reconstruction, the roadway is restricted to 14 feet wide.
U.S. 460 West and 460 Business West at Bush River – During reconstruction, both structures will have lane closures and an 18-foot width restriction.
Northern Virginia District
HOV hours – HOV rules will be in effect for normal daily operations on Friday, Aug. 29. Northbound Interstate 95/395 reversible HOV lanes will close at 10 a.m.
The lanes will be cleared and reversed for southbound traffic until Saturday, Aug. 30 at 2 p.m., when they will be cleared and open for northbound traffic.
The lanes on I-95/395 will remain northbound on Sunday, Aug. 31 and Monday, Sept. 1, with no HOV restrictions in place.
I-95 Widening in Fairfax and Prince William counties (Exits 160 to 166) – Northbound and southbound construction and lane closures are ending on Thursday, Aug. 28 and will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at noon.
Interstate 66 widening in Prince William County (Exits 44 to 43) – Construction and lane closures are ending on Friday, Aug. 29, at noon and will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at noon.
Interstate 495 High Occupancy Toll Lanes in Fairfax County (Exits 44 to 57) – Construction and lane closures are ending on Friday, Aug. 29, at noon and will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at noon.
I-95/495 Telegraph Road to Wilson Bridge in Alexandria (Exits 176 to 177) – Construction and lane closures are ending on Friday, Aug. 29, at noon and will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at noon. There is a long-term lane closure at Telegraph Road until 2012.
Richmond District
Interstates 295/64 flyover (western Henrico County) – Expect 11-foot-wide travel lanes and concrete barriers along I-64 east and west between Route 288 (Exit 174) and I-295 (Exit 177) and along I-295 between the I-64 interchange and just south of Nuckols Road (Exit 51). The speed limit has been reduced to 55 mph in this work zone.
U.S. Route 460 (Prince George County) – There will be one lane of travel in each direction between U.S. Route 156 (Prince George Drive) and one mile east of the intersection.
Salem District
Eastbound Route 58 bridge over Little Reed Island Creek – The bridge near Gardner Mill Road, between the west limits of Hillsville and I-77, is closed. Route 58 traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction and shifted into the westbound lanes for about 0.8-mile. The speed limit is reduced to 35 mph.
Plantation Road over I-81 at the Exit 146 interchange – Work is under way to replace the riding surface of the Plantation Road Bridge over I-81. Traffic is reduced to one lane, and a temporary signal is controlling traffic. Vehicles wider than 11 feet cannot cross the bridge. The speed limit in this work zone is reduced to 25 mph.
Route 220 Business bridge – In Ridgeway, work is under way to replace the bridge over the railroad tracks. The bridge is near the Route 87 intersection. Route 220 (Business) is closed between Route 639 and Mica Road. Traffic is being detoured onto Route 87.
(END)
Note to Editors:
For details about specific projects, please contact your district public affairs office. Visit www.virginiadot.org/news/mediacontacts.asp to find the office in your area.
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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.
