The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is seeking public comment about a project that is under development to construct a new pedestrian bridge to carry the Appalachian Trail over Route 311 in Roanoke County.
Citizens are invited to learn more by viewing information online including a 3D rendering of the new bridge and to provide comments by completing an online comment form by July 18, 2020.
Project information, renderings, contact information and the comment form are all available at www.virginiadot.org/TrailBridgeatRoute311.
The McAfee Knob trailhead of the Appalachian Trail access is extremely popular with hikers, but poses a safety concern as pedestrians entering the trail from the nearby parking lot must cross Route 311 at a location in a curve with limited sight distance.
As a long-term improvement to enhance pedestrian safety, VDOT, in partnership with the National Park Service, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club, Roanoke County and the Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission, pursued plans for a bridge to carry trail users over Route 311 away from vehicular traffic.
Anyone requiring special assistance to provide input on this project may contact VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 800-367-7623 or TTY/TDD 711.
