The Virginia Department of Transportation is getting public feedback about a new project. They want to improve a two-mile section of the Orange Avenue Corridor.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is hosting a design public hearing project on Nov. 6, from 5 to 7 p.m.

As fall begins, we’re approaching deer mating season, which means more deer on the road.

VDOT wants to hear from you when it comes to Route 419, Electric Road, between Starkey Road and Springwood Park Drive in Roanoke County.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is inviting residents and travelers to share feedback on four major transportation studies aimed at improving safety, traffic flow and multimodal access across parts of Botetourt County, Roanoke, Blacksburg and Radford.

A major traffic safety improvement project is coming to one of Vinton’s busiest intersections, where about 12,000 to 15,000 vehicles drive daily on the intersection of Routes 24 (Hardy Road/ Bypass Road) and 634 (Hardy Road) in Vinton.

Many areas of our region are expected to have dangerous travel conditions on Tuesday and Wednesday.

As Virginia braces for another winter storm, travel and safety experts are urging residents to plan ahead to avoid dangerous situations. Crews from both the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and local city agencies are already on the roads, preparing for the upcoming weather conditions.

If you’ve traveled on U.S. 220 or Route 419 near Tanglewood in South Roanoke County, you’re likely familiar with how congested those corridors can get.

As winter weather approaches, you’ve likely noticed the VDOT trucks on the roads, working to keep them safe and clear of ice. But how do they do it? Here’s a look at the process.

As November ushers in cooler temperatures, many are turning their attention to winter preparations—and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is no exception. Though it’s sunny and 80 degrees today, VDOT is already preparing for snowflakes.

Construction for the improvements won't start for at least a few years.

You may notice more traffic on Interstate 81 as the right lane of southbound I-81 around mile marker 138 is closed for emergency bridge repairs.

Over $361 Million will go towards adding lanes from exit 143 to 150.

Big changes are coming to a Botetourt County interchange to improve safety.

Improvements are coming to Orange Avenue in Roanoke.

The snow has come and gone but the worry for ice becomes more prevalent with frigid temperatures overnight.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is asking for public comments on a new trail expected to run through Botetourt and Craig counties.

The project is slated to start after 2025 and VDOT is asking for the communites input.

VDOT was just granted approval to start construction on the pedestrian bridge near McAfee Knob.

Upcoming bridge repairs in the work zone on northbound Interstate 81 are expected to create significant delays for drivers, according to VDOT.

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

As parts of the region are seeing winter weather, VDOT urges drivers to use extra caution.

With the possibility of snow and sleet on the way, VDOT is looking to stay ahead of the weather.

A Troutville weigh station along I-81 is closed for truck driver parking overnight. According to a DMV spokesperson, they’ve had to stop allowing parking in the lot due to an increase in trash.

Staff warns that any wet roads will freeze overnight on Dec. 23 because of the extremely low temperatures, and the main trouble spots are bridges and overpasses.

The few days leading up to Christmas are said to be the busiest during the holiday travel season. That, paired with the threat of cold and ice, could make driving even more difficult.

The Virginia Department of Transportation expects drivers to sit in traffic and wait in Roanoke County along I-81. The reason is that road repair will last until at least Thursday.

VDOT is gearing up to keep the roads clear this winter. By improving contracting to be more flexible, competitive, and attractive to contractors to address equipment and personnel shortages.

Crews are working to repair a road collapse in Botetourt County.

VDOT is finishing a two-year construction project that straightened a dangerous, 1.5-mile S-curve in the eastbound lane.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is suspending road work and closures for Memorial Day weekend.

VDOT is planning for a summer full of travel and reminding drivers to stay safe in work zones.

VDOT leaders said the goal is to ease traffic congestion by widening the interstate.

Crews are on high alert coordinating their response to the winter storm expected Sunday.

The first snowfall of the season is already jumpstarting the new year.

Even on a rainy and overcast day, cars are parked at the McAfee Knob trailhead parking lot. On a sunny weekend, finding a spot can be nearly impossible.

Construction is well underway on a Franklin County road project designed to save lives

In 2020, 11 Virginians were killed and 1,547 were injured in work zone crashes.

VDOT wants to make your drive along U.S. Route 220 between Roanoke and Martinsville a lot smoother.

On Wednesday, VDOT opened the right eastbound lane of the road to traffic and, weather permitting, VDOT will have a westbound lane open before the weekend. Since Sunday, crews have removed than 1,000 cubic yards of materials from the slide location, including dirt and debris in the roadway and from the slope along westbound Route 460. AdUPDATE Feb. 22 5:00pm:Shutting down an entire road and forcing drivers to find new routes around the Rich Creek area in Giles County, a mudslide continues to grow on Route 460. “Route 460 is definitely a main artery for people going to West Virginia,” said Dorsey Bradley, who lives in Rich Creek. A year ago, on Route 460 but closer to Glen Lyn, a mudslide blocked the eastbound lane.

SALEM, Va. – Before the orange barrels go up, VDOT wants your input on a major long term project. VDOT is hosting its first virtual public hearing in this part of the state Tuesday, Feb. 9 to discuss widening a five-mile stretch of I-81 in Salem. This is the first widening project that is part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program, a $2 billion package funded by the Virginia General Assembly. This new project will connect directly to the stretch of two miles that is already under construction for another widening project. For more information on the project and the link to the virtual public hearing, click here.

Crews continue to clear roads and are now preparing for potential refreezing overnight Monday. With most primary and secondary roads cleared, the focus shifted Monday. “We do have quite a number of miles of unpaved secondary roads throughout our region,” said VDOT spokesperson Jason Bond. After the first round of snow, crews worked diligently to plow and treat roads, preparing for any more potential precipitation. But the threat isn’t over with the potential for refreezing overnight.

VDOT crews are working to keep the roads clear as snow continues to pour down across southwest and central Virginia. “As it’s coming down it’s just re-covering the roads that we’re plowing, and it is coming down very heavy in some areas so it’s definitely a challenge,” said Jason Bond, VDOT spokesperson. Bond said crews are continuing to make multiple passes on interstates and primary roads. As plowing continues, Bond said the priority is going to be primary roads and the interstates. “We will only get to the secondary roads, neighborhood streets once the snow stops and we make progress on those main roads,” said Bond.

VDOT crews clocked in for 12-hour shifts Saturday evening in anticipation of the night’s winter weather. Multiple inches of snow are forecast for Southwest Virginia, and VDOT spokesperson Jason Bond told 10 News the conditions will likely be hard for the crews. Really, folks should avoid traveling.”VDOT will focus on interstates and main routes first, which means it could be a while before some neighborhood streets are cleared. “Snow stopping and restarting again will pull us back onto the main roads so we can continue making multiple passes over those routes,” Bond said. For a look at current road conditions throughout Virginia, click on this link.

ROANOKE, Va – All eyes are on the forecast as agencies across southwest Virginia prepare for what could be a weekend very impacted by winter weather. What happens before the storm can be just as important as what happens during the storm, according to Jason Bond with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). But the chilly temperatures southwest Virginia is seeing ahead of this weekend’s weather maker can complicate things. “The issue for us is really the temperatures when it gets to be below freezing and so cold. We can’t pretreat so in many counties, the storm we’re not going to be able to pretreat unless the conditions, really warm-up right before the storm,” Bond said.

ROANOKE, Va. – While there may be fewer people traveling this year due to the pandemic, the weather is adding another challenge to the mix. Virginia Department of Transportation sent crews home to prepare for potential freezing Thursday night and into the weekend. “Don’t take for granted that roads are wet,” Jason Bond, the spokesperson for VDOT, said. “When those temperatures start to fall this can turn into a really icy and slick situation.”Bond said bridges and overpasses are the main icy zones to look out for. “If I got snowed in here in Virginia it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

ROANOKE, Va. – It was all hands on deck Tuesday as VDOT and Appalachian Power crews prepared for a winter storm to hit Virginia. VDOT had crews out prepping the roads for snow and ice by brining the major interstates and roads. Bond said workers will be on standby to plow any snow and treat icy roads. Appalachian Power is pulling in extra crews from Tennessee and West Virginia in anticipation of the storm. And even, you know, when the roads are slick, cars are sliding into poles and breaking poles,” said Boksa.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – VDOT wants to cut your commute time and is asking for your input on a new roundabout in Roanoke County. It wants to build the roundabout near Starkey Road and Buck Mountain Road. About 8,600 cars drive that intersection each day, so the roundabout would reduce significant congestion. “There really are significant delays, particularly at peak travel times around this intersection,” said VDOT spokesperson Jason Bond. "So the roundabout offers a way to really improve how the intersection functions and offers drivers a way to get through the intersection more efficiently.”VDOT is accepting public comments on the project until October 31.

That’s exactly what the Virginia Department of Transportation is hoping to do for drivers on Route 220. VDOT spokesperson Jason Bond said the project will cost $16 million, funded by state and federal funding. The project will cut down wait times at traffic lights by 20 percent and reduce crashes by 15 to 20 percent. “Traffic congestion is expected to constrain future growth and travel along the Route 220 corridor from Roanoke to Martinsville," said Bond. You can also click on each individual picture on that main page to give input on each of the seven intersections.

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.

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.

ROANOKE, Va. The flash flooding which put parts of Southwest Virginia at a standstill Wednesday is fading away, and it likely has not left much of a lasting impact on the areas major roads. Virginia Department of Transportation spokesperson Jason Bond believes the flooding did not cause any major damage on any highways. He said the biggest challenge is repairing roads severely damaged by Mays rainstorm, particularly Route 116 in Franklin County and Route 460 in Giles County. The Route 116 repairs are estimated to cost $2 million, while the Route 460 repairs have an estimated price tag of $1 million. It has pulled resources off of those repair jobs onto other flooded routes.Bond projects the Route 116 repairs could finish around Labor Day.

Drivers like Charles Angell hit a major detour on his drive from West Virginia to Giles County on Tuesday due to a road closure. Route 460 is closed in both directions after a landslide washed away the road. VDOT spokesperson Jason Bond said there are several long-term closures due to damage, including on Route 116 in Franklin County, Route 640 and Route 57 in Bassett. The National Park Service and Federal Highway Administration will assess the damage and determine what repairs are needed. You never know, especially that river road over there, tomorrow it might not be open, said Angell.

ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. – Construction to widen Interstate 81 in Roanoke County is set to start this spring, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The $27.3 million contract was awarded at a meeting last week in Richmond to Branch Civil Inc., a Roanoke construction firm. VDOT claims that about 70,000 vehicles use this portion of I-81 every day, making it the most heavily traveled portion of I-81 in Virginia. Drivers can expect two lanes of traffic to remain open on I-81 during the majority of the project. There is a tendency sometimes for drivers to slow down when they encounter a barricade wall,” Bond said.

ROANOKE, Va. – A little winter weather is expected to hit the region on Tuesday, and VDOT has decided to treat the roads in case they freeze over. VDOT is brining major interstates like I-81 and I-77 as a precaution, as well as major roads in the New River Valley, including Route 460. VDOT spokesperson Jason Bond says they’re not expecting road conditions to be terrible because the ground temperature is so high, but it’s better to be careful. “Watch for potential slick spots, in those cooler areas where if it does start to snow, and the pavement temperature starts to dip down, like in a shaded area, a mountain top, an overpass, a bridge, you might start to see a little bit of accumulation on those roads, areas first," said Bond. Crews will be working overnight and Tuesday morning to treat the roads if there’s any snow or ice.

SALEM, Va. – Winter is coming and VDOT crews are ready. VDOT spokesman Jason Bond said crews have been prepping for Mother Nature’s unpredictability for months. The VDOT Salem District gets 1,100 vehicles and $15.8 million of the overall budget. If winter weather hits this region hard and pushes the limit of that budget, Bond said it won’t cause any immediate problems. Click here to track snowplows during winter weather events.

ROANOKE, Va.- - Work crews continue to make progress on the second phase of construction on 10th Street in Roanoke. The paving work started last week on Andrews Road to Williamson Road. Marlene Starkey lives off 10th Street, and right now it's not her favorite street to travel. Utility work put the project behind by a few weeks, but it's still expected to be finished by the end of the year. Click here to see more about the 10th Street Improvement ProjectCopyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.

We hear the concerns our viewers have about area roads, from I-81 to US-460, and Wednesday night the state transportation secretary was in Roanoke to hear from residents and local leaders on infrastructure wants and needs. Perfect examples for Botetourt County Fire and EMS chief Jason Ferguson to share with the Commonwealth Transportation Board about what happens here. Ferguson is talking about Smart Scale. State Transportation Secretary Shannon Valentine listened to our local leaders ask for help with the usual suspects -- I-81, US-460, US-220 and rail. Changes to Smart Scale are coming, and Valentine shared other minor improvements like rumble strips and chevrons that are expected to help.

When it comes to Interstate 81 improvements, Roanoke and Botetourt counties remain front and center. The decision puts the projects, and others affecting southwest Virginia, in the next wave of improvements that will hit the construction phase. "Authorizing these funds is the next step of Interstate 81 improvements in Virginia," Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman Jason Bond said. Flashing chevrons have already been installed in Botetourt County from mile marker 176 to 172 and in Pulaski County at mile marker 88. An acceleration lane in Pulaski County northbound near Exit 89 is scheduled to be ready in the spring of next year.