CONSTRUCTION

Overnight and early morning rain Friday prompted flooding and damage in some parts of our region.

Virginia Department of Transportation officials are reminding citizens that construction sites can turn tragic in the blink of an eye.

Construction has begun on the Lynchburg Police Department’s new headquarters, an estimated $50 million project.

Salem city leaders voted unanimously to support the STS group AG moving into the old General Electric plant on Friday.

The Old General Electric building in Salem has been claimed. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced Thursday the 32 million dollar investment by STS Group AG, a global supplier of vehicle parts.

Liberty University Student working to encourage more women to learn about careers in construction

The Virginia National Guard marked a milestone in Troutville Thursday, with a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion they’ve been waiting years for.

More plans are in the works for the Wasena bridge project, including the addition of a roundabout.

Governor Glenn Youngkin announced more than $24.7 million will be invested into several industrial revitalization projects across the state on Tuesday.

The controversial Brandon Avenue townhomes project has been approved by Roanoke City Council.

The proposed Brandon Avenue development is now one step closer to becoming a reality.

On Tuesday, the YMCA of Central Virginia announced an $11.5 million capital campaign goal to renovate the Downtown YMCA on Church Street.

After the renovations are complete, the park will feature some amenities that city leaders have been pushing for.

George’s Flowers on Franklin Road used to have a Ramada Inn as a next-door neighbor back in the day.

Pulaski County High School students are building the first net-zero home, which is designed to produce as much energy as it consumes within a year, resulting in net zero energy consumption according to Atmos Energy’s website.

The rising cost of materials forced them to postpone the building process, Alquist said

It is all hands-on deck to complete the new Rustburg Middle School, which we’re told is the first secondary school built in Campbell County in 40 years.

In their current space, workstations are on top of one another, visitors have to sit on a narrow bench in a tight hallway, the locker room barely fits two officers, and there are no weight rooms or showers.

As Salem High students prepare to head back to the halls, they can also prepare to see some exciting new changes to their school.

After over a year of closures and detours, the Roanoke River Bridge is back open on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

As development comes closer to the area of the Dan River near the dam, there’s urgency behind the decision.

At Tuesday afternoon’s meeting, Roanoke City leaders presented ideas to promote traffic flow and pedestrian safety on busy roadways in Roanoke.

The opening of the new Lynchburg bridge marks the end of phase one, which has been in the works for more than two years.

Despite temperatures above 90 degrees, Allegheny Construction continued their work with precautions in mind.

Using his company to help the American Red Cross during an emergency blood shortage while also becoming a regular blood donor himself is what constructed a hero spotlight on Sam Lionberge

VDOT’s asking people to show raise awareness about work zone safety by wearing orange Wednesday, April 13.

National Women in Construction Week is taking the time to encourage more women to think about construction as a career with different events.

The goal in reducing lanes is to help calm down traffic and make space for new bike lanes.

Extensive work is starting on the outside, before moving to renovations inside

Crews have broken ground on a new, multi-million dollar transit facility in the Star City.

In lieu of retirement communities or assisted living, it seems more and more seniors are moving in with their children.

Work on the project started in summer 2020 and is expected to be completed in summer 2022.

The transition from the current one-way streets to two-way streets will occur in three phases

The work continues on the WSLS Home for Good project, but not without challenges.

The intersection of Main and 10th Streets is under construction through Tuesday, July 13th.

Plans for the construction of a casino in Danville are one step closer to a reality.

The $36 million construction project will continue through upcoming school year

It’s going to cost Roanoke County millions more to renovate one of its oldest schools.

Having spent so much time at home in the past year, many have realized they need more space in their home that’s functional -- but house hunting can be a grind. Instead of just using it for storage, many homeowners are now opting to add living space to their home by finishing the basement. AdDepending on the size of the basement, Smith said, space can be converted into additional bedrooms and bathrooms, game rooms, a second kitchen, mini-bar, a workout room or an office. “It’s just taking the time to work with someone to understand how they can convert that into useable, functional space,” Smith said. “People are really starting to take advantage of finishing basements for added living space that they didn’t think about before.

Even though it’s February and a snowstorm recently hit the area, construction projects should very much be on the minds of people who are interested in doing major or minor home renovations, a local construction expert said. One reason is, peak construction season isn’t too far away, with spring starting to draw a bit closer. With contractors already having work lined up for months and a delay in building materials, the sooner a project starts its planning phase, the better. “Now would be the time to start that process,” said Alicia Smith, an interior designer and Director of Marketing and Development for F&S Building Innovations. For more information or to inquire about a commercial or residential construction project, click or tap here.

ROANOKE, Va. – If you’re interested in learning about construction and building trades and live in Bedford County, you could qualify for free tuition. The Build Smart Institute Core Fundamentals of Construction Program is free to any student who lives in Bedford County in tenth to twelfth grade. You can be in public school, private school or homeschooled. “The construction industry has been starved for skilled workers for decades now. There’s a real deficit even through the pandemic of skilled workers for the construction industry,” said Rob Leonard, Build Smart Institute director.

ROANOKE, Va. – Angels of Assisi has begun construction on its new Community Pet Hospital and Adoption Center. The shelter posted about the update on Facebook on Wednesday, writing:“It is an exciting day here at Angels of Assisi as excavation has begun on our new property! A big thank you to everyone that has helped get us to this point. We can’t wait to keep everyone updatedon the progress of the new Community Pet Hospital and Adoption Center. For more information on our new facility,visit https://www.canyouimagine.gives/ #Imagine #HelpIsHere”The new pet hospital and adoption shelter will be located near the intersection of Franklin Road and Elm Avenue in Roanoke across from Roanoke Fire-EMS Station #1.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – As pizzeria workers slice and dice inside Benny Scarpetta’s on Main Street, construction crews continue slicing and dicing the roadway outside. Lynchburg’s Main Street Renewal Project has taken a toll on traffic between 8th and 12th Street over the past year. But in recent months, businesses like Benny Scarpetta’s have hit another roadblock: COVID-19. Businesses have faith in the future of Main Street. “The goal is that it brings in more business and to hear that it’s already on track is super, super nice,” Miles said.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. The twists and turns of Route 116 between Roanoke and Franklin counties has been illuminated with detour signs for months, but the road could reopen soon. VDOT spokesperson Jason Bond estimates the road, which washed out during a storm in May, could be ready for cars by Labor Day Weekend. They have built up the roadbed, they put stone where the road collapsed, Bond said. It is a massive job.Route 116 is a popular thoroughfare between Roanoke and Smith Mountain Lake, and drivers who use the road miss its accessibility. Holiday travelers will have that road for any Smith Mountain Lake trips they want to make.

Private industry and manufacturing see that construction is 4% of the GDP, said Rob Leonard, director of Build Smart Institute, a construction school based in Roanoke. Chances are, anyone who learns a skill or multiple skills at a construction school wont have many problems finding work once finished. There are literally thousands and thousands of jobs in the construction industry, Leonard said. For middle school and high school students who are attending a hybrid model and only doing class twice a week, a construction school can be an alternative to further their learning during the other days of the week. For more information on the benefits of a construction school, click or tap here.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. A project four years in the making to improve a busy local interchange is about to begin. On Monday, work will start on the southbound side of Route 419 near Tanglewood Mall in Roanoke County. Drivers can expect shoulder closures and nighttime lane closures on Route 419 throughout the duration of this project. There will be, also, some impacts to the businesses along that stretch of Route 419 at nighttime, Bond said. VDOT and the contractor will work with businesses along the road during the construction to help them mitigate the impact of the work.

More time at home has turned into more of an opportunity to do various home improvement projects, although that sometimes can be dangerous. Scott Frankel, co-president of Frankel Building Group in Texas, offered five tips for those who are currently attempting or about to start home renovation projects while quarantined. They aren’t things that are going to necessarily wow your neighbor, but they need to be done.”Don’t bring in outside workers. It’s a real easy way to throw your back out or slip off of a ladder.”Clean out items you don’t need anymore. “When you go to a professional and you say that this is what you want to do, your ideas are organized,” Frankel said.