VDOT proposing to straighten "S-Curve" on Route 460 in Bedford County

The stretch of road was the site of a fatal tractor trailer accident in 2012

MONTVALE, VA – After years of crashes and several fatalities, VDOT is proposing safety improvements to a stretch of Route 460 in Bedford County.

 

The "S-Curve" between Montvale and the Town of Bedford was the site of a deadly tractor trailer accident and fuel spill in 2012.

 

VDOT says it hasn't had the more than $18 million necessary to straighten the road out, until now.

 

"I think it's going to happen this time, so it's long overdue," said Bob McMillan.

 

McMillan's family has lived near route 460 for more than half a century.

 

When the road was built, it crossed his family's property, causing a unique problem.

 

"I think I'm probably one of the few people that can say they have 12 acres of land in the middle of the highway," said McMillan.

 

McMillan says, even back then, it was clear the curves should only be a temporary solution.

 

"In the mid-1950's, VDOT recognized that the curves needed to be straightened, and they actually acquired the right-of-way at that time from my father in the mid-1950's, so it's taken that long to get to this point," said McMillan.

 

What VDOT says did get it to this point is the high crash numbers on the road.

 

Tom Bolick says years ago, a crash made him part of those statistics.

 

"My car skidded over the guard rail. Luckily back then they had the cable guard rails, and the back end of my car caught on the guard rail to keep from going over. So ever since that happened years ago, I'm always careful coming into that curve," said Bolick.

 

In addition to crashes like Bolick's, the road saw a fatal tractor trailer accident at the curve in 2012 that caused a fuel spill, shutting down the east-bound lanes for four months.

 

VDOT says in addition to straightening the road, intersection improvements should keep crashes like that from happening again.

 

"When you modify those crossovers, it eliminates those numbers of conflict points, and it definitely improves safety," said VDOT Spokesman Jason Bond.

 

For people like Bolick and McMillan, who drive 460 every day, that safety is something they're looking forward to.

 

"It's going to be a great improvement. So it helps me, it makes my property something that I might be able to do something with, and it certainly gets rid of the safety hazard that exists right now," said McMillan.

 

VDOT says the plan is for crews to begin breaking ground on Route 460 starting in the spring of 2020 and the project should last until 2022, and the hope is that there won't be a need for a detour, because the existing S-Curve will still be open to traffic while the new road is being constructed.

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