Under Construction

What's Being Done

In response to devastating floods, an innovative partnership between VDOT, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Town of Grundy will result in a new highway, flood protection for the town, and the relocation of the downtown business district to a new site across the Levisa Fork River.

Project Updates

In March 2006, the $24.2 million contract for the Route 460 Grundy project was awarded to Bizzack, Inc., Lexington, Ky.

The 0.7-mile floodproofing portion of the Route 460 highway project is being constructed on a new location from just south of Railroad Avenue to 0.4-mile north of the existing Route 460/Route 83 intersection through the heart of downtown Grundy.

To prevent flooding, the roadway will be built above the 1977 flood elevation. The new business district will be across the Levisa River at the town's redevelopment site. The existing Buchanan County Courthouse is not in the path of the new road.

Background:
- In spring 2005, construction bids for the highway portion of this joint project came in approximately $15 million over budget; therefore, VDOT rejected the bids. VDOT re-designed the Route 460 construction project to meet the agency's budget, and then re-advertised the project in November 2005.

- A Project Cooperation Agreement between the Department of Army (US Army Corps of Engineers), the Town of Grundy and VDOT – Commonwealth of Virginia for the Implementation of the Grundy, Virginia Nonstructural Flood Control Project was signed on August 10, 1998. By joining with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to link the ring wall-levee with our highway project, we accomplish two goals in one: a new, modern efficient highway and flood protection for the town.

- In addition to the engineering innovations linking the roadway to the ring wall-levee, there have been innovations in financing the project. A portion of VDOT's expenditures for the project will satisfy the federal requirements that a non-federal partner pay for at least 25% of the total cost of the flood control project.

Features

VDOT has joined with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to link the ring wall-levee with the Route 460 highway project, accomplishing two goals in one: providing a new, modern, efficient highway and flood protection for the town. The ring wall-levee will come down the south side of Slate Creek and will tie into the embankment of the new Route 460 at the new bridge over Slate Creek.

Completion of the project is scheduled for Summer 2009.

Impact on Traffic

West and eastbound Route 460 traffic in the Town of Grundy has been moved from Riverside Drive to the newly constructed portion of Route 460 to allow for the removal of Riverside Drive.  A temporary traffic signal has been added at the intersection of Route 83 and the traffic signal adjacent to the movie theater and redevelopment site has been removed.  

A complimentary downtown Grundy shuttle service continues to be offered during the Route 460 relocation project. The service operates from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. Fridays.

There are three temporary parking lots for the shuttle service: the parking garage at the movie theatre, Grundy Church of Christ and the town’s redevelopment site. The shuttle will stop at each lot and at the corner of Walnut and Main Streets every 15-20 minutes. Two temporary shelters for shuttle patrons to use during inclement weather are located adjacent to the Grundy Church of Christ and near the redevelopment site.

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Contacts

Robert Griffith, P.E., 276-889-7600
David Lamie, 276-889-7600