As part of ongoing road construction to widen a one-mile section of Route 221 in Roanoke County, concrete bridge beams will be delivered next week and set into place on the new bridge over Back Creek. The 10 bridge beams are expected to be delivered between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 12, Tuesday, Dec. 13 and Wednesday, Dec. 14.
As each beam arrives on the project site, two large cranes will be used to lower it onto the new bridge. To allow for delivery, unloading and placement of the beams, Route 221 traffic will be stopped for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Each beam is approximately 90-feet long and weighs more than 89,000 pounds.
Every effort will be made to minimize traffic disruptions. However, traffic will have to be stopped for several minutes on Route 221, along adjacent roadways and at private entrances. Route 221 will be closed between its intersection with Cotton Hill Road and where the currently four-lane roadway ends.
Signs and message boards will be in place to alert drivers to these traffic delays. Drivers should watch for flaggers and expect short-term delays.