Recently Completed: Route 220 (Botetourt Road) Safety Improvement Project

The primary purpose of this project was to enhance safety along the 10-mile section of Route 220 (Botetourt Road) between Iron Gate and the James River Bridge near Eagle Rock by:

• improving vertical and horizontal alignment
• widening shoulders, lanes and center lane width
• improving intersections 
• adding turn lanes
• providing additional passing opportunities
• providing centerline and edge-line rumble strips
• providing plastic inlaid pavement markers

This project was designed to improve this section of Route 220 as a two-lane road and was intended to reduce the severity and number of crashes.

Benefits 

This project improved a portion of Route 220 as a two-lane road in an effort to reduce the severity and number of crashes between Iron Gate and the James River Bridge near Eagle Rock by improving alignment, widening shoulders, lanes and center lane width, improving intersections, adding turn lanes and passing opportunities and providing centerline and edge-line rumble strips and raised centerline pavement markers. 

Major Milestones 

PHASES OF CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED:

PHASE 3 
From Iron Gate/Fork Farm Road to Burhman Road (Northern area of the project)

CONSTRUCTION
Crews are completing fill material to the area to build up and widen shoulders on the east side of the roadway. Drainage pipe, pavement and guardrail were installed. In addition, pavement resurfacing and pavement markings were completed south of the James River Bridge. The final roadway pavement reconstruction north of the James River bridge will be followed by installation of plastic inlaid pavement markings, rumble strip installation and signage. 

PHASE 2 
From Gala Loop Road to Route 43, Narrow Passage Road (Southern area of the project)

CONSTRUCTION
Crews have moved fill material to the area to build up and widen shoulders. Portions of the roadway will be built up six feet for the roadway realignment.  In the summer to early fall, barrier wall will be put in place to direct traffic during roadway and drainage construction. Roadway is scheduled to be paved in the fall.  Final paving operations, plastic inlaid pavement markings and rumble strip installation may be done once the entire project is completed. Drivers should expect rough road along sections of the project throughout its duration.   

PHASE 1 
From Locust Bottom Road to Gala Loop Road (middle area of the project)

CONSTRUCTION
Crews are clearing trees and brush both sides of a 4.5 mile stretch of roadway and will continue through early to mid-spring. Utility relocation is underway.  Excavation near Chatham Road will continue as crews prepare to re-align the roadway. Construction of one box culvert is complete with the other two to be installed in early spring. The last two will replace the two bridges south of Locust Bottom Road. A traffic shift will be installed and Locust Bottom Road will close with a detour in place.  The traffic shift and road closure are expected to be complete in early spring. Excavation, drainage and work to re-align the roadway will occur during the winter. Paving operations will be completed once the entire project is completed so drivers should expect rough road along sections of the project throughout its duration.