VDOT: Storm repairs may cost $1 million

Published 5:32 pm Tuesday, September 8, 2020

The cost of repairing roads and bridges in Isle of Wight and Surry counties that were severely damaged by heavy rainfall and flash flooding the weekend of Aug. 15 may reach nearly $1 million, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Work to reopen damaged roads is ongoing and will continue for several weeks, according to VDOT spokesperson Kelly Alvord.

“There were five distinct areas along Route 10 with storm damage,” Alvord said. The section along Route 10 East near the Isle of Wight County line experienced significant damage and was closed to all traffic with a detour in place until Sept. 4, Alvord said.

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She also advised residents and motorists to be alert for single-lane closures and ongoing construction along Route 10.

Route 634 (Highgate Road) at Lower Chippokes Creek in Surry is also still closed to through traffic. Alvord said VDOT was finalizing a contract for repairs as of Sept. 2. Once that’s done, repair work would likely start in two or three weeks, and the project would likely be completed in about four weeks, weather permitting.

On Route 650 (Mount Ray Drive) at Pooles Creek near Slades Park, VDOT made temporary repairs to open one lane to traffic for access for the residents who live past the washout. VDOT is working on the final scope of work and finalizing contracts for additional pipe and roadway repairs at this location. “We anticipate having a contract in place within the next two to three weeks, with construction beginning shortly after,” Alvord said.

Route 626 (Beaverdam Road) at Grays Creek, Route 634 (Brownsview Road) at College Run near Beechland Road, Route 608 (Oak Hill Road) between Huntington Road Laurel Springs Road and Route 627 (Moonlight Road) near Route 10 were also damaged by the storm but have since reopened.

“VDOT has estimated the total repair cost for the roadway damage caused by the weather events in Surry County to be between $800,000 and $900,000,” Alvord said. In Isle of Wight, VDOT expects to spend $50,000 to $60,000 to repair storm-damaged highways.

Route 637 (Orbit Road) between Route 600 (Woodland Drive) and Route 644 (Bowling Green Road) and Route 673 (Morgarts Beach Road) between Route 674 (Blunts Corner) and Fort Boykin were closed but have since reopened.

In road work unrelated to storm recovery, Alvord said VDOT plans to replace the existing Pope Swamp Bridge in Isle of Wight on Route 644 (Firetower Road) with a larger bridge. Also in Isle of Wight, transportation plans call for the replacement of a one-lane bridge on Route 683 over Stallings Creek with a new bridge.

“Additionally, there is the Nike Park Road Extension Project, proposing construction of a new one-mile long, two-lane connector road from the existing intersection of Nike Park Road and Reynolds Drive to Carrollton Boulevard (Route 17),” Alvord said. The project plans include a connection from Route 17 to Battery Park Road (Route 704) and providing corridor capacity on existing local routes that connect to Route 17, including Smiths Neck Road to the east and Brewers Neck Boulevard to the west.