bluefield, va. — Motorists should prepare for another traffic pattern change beginning May 1 at the site of a $4.2 million interchange improvement project on U.S. Route 460 in the town limits of Bluefield, Va.
At that time access to and from Route 460 via Leatherwood Lane will be rerouted, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.
“We are just going to switch what is happening on Commerce Drive to Leatherwood Lane,” Michelle Earl, the Bristol District Communications Manager for the Virginia Department of Transportation, said Thursday. “May 1 weather permitting is the day they will plan to do that switch. We also ask with the work they are doing leading up to this switch that there may be a few traffic pattern changes in the coming days. We just ask folks to pay close attention.”
Work got underway earlier this spring on the project, which is located at Commerce Drive and Leatherwood Lane. VDOT estimates it will take until August to complete the improvements to the heavily traveled corridor.
It involves the construction of offset left-turn lanes to improve sight distance at the intersection of Route 460 at Commerce Drive and Leatherwood Lane in the town limits of Bluefield, Va. The project also includes the replacement of the traffic signal at each intersection and minor drainage modifications.
Earl said the goal is to do some temporary paving, striping and new signal installation work at Commerce Drive so that construction crews can switch the detour that is currently in place on Commerce Drive to Leatherwood Lane next month.
While the area is heavily traveled due to its close proximity to two shopping centers, Earl said no major traffic delays or related problems have been reported to date.
Bluefield, Va. Town Clerk Lori Stacy agrees, adding the town hasn’t had any reports to date of any major problems at the construction site.
“Everyone seems to navigate everything very well,” Stacy said.
The changes beginning May 1 will mostly impact those who would have to turn onto Leatherwood, according to Stacy.
“But if you are on College Avenue and are going to travel toward Route 460 that won’t be much of a problem,” Stacy said. “So what motorists should really know to do is be aware that they may have to take an exit before or after Leatherwood to get to where they are going.”
Motorists also can connect to U.S. Route 460 at other locations, including in neighboring West Virginia.
The project is being completed by Jones Road and Bridge, Inc.
Motorists also should be alert to periodic single lane closures on Route 460 during construction, according to VDOT.
Contact Charles Owens at