A Virginia Department of Transportation project to help prevent roadway departure crashes is under construction on portions of Route 340 in Page and Warren counties. The work takes place along 21 miles of Route 340 where terrain allows, and connects several previous VDOT projects. Improvements include shoulder widening, guardrail work and new rumble strips at various locations between the towns of Luray and Front Royal.
The Route 340 project requires flagger traffic control from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights. In addition, work may occasionally take place weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., also with flagger traffic control.
Details of the safety improvements include:
- Shoulders widened to as much as five feet, in areas where this does not interfere with existing roadside ditches. Wider shoulders offer drivers more room to recover if they leave their travel lane, or if an oncoming vehicle crosses the center line. Nearly eight miles of new paved shoulders are being constructed as part of this project.
- Shoulder-line rumble strips are being installed in the areas of Compton Creek and Jeremy’s Run in Page County, and Overall Run at the Warren-Page county line. Rumble strips can help prevent motorists from running off the road by warning them if they leave their travel lane.
- Guardrail is being installed at 15 locations in Warren County and 14 locations in Page County.
The Federal Highway Administration funds 90 percent of the design and construction of this project through the Highway Safety Improvement Program. In November 2017, VDOT awarded a $1.6 million construction contract to Chemung Contracting Corporation of Mitchells, Virginia.
The Route 340 project is estimated to be complete in late July 2018. All work is weather permitting.
Virginia traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at www.511Virginia.org.
The VDOT Customer Service Center can assist with reporting road hazards, asking transportation questions, or getting information related to Virginia’s roads. Call 800-FOR- ROAD (800-367-7623) or use its mobile friendly website at my.vdot.virginia.gov. Agents are available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week.
The Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton. VDOT can be followed on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located at www.VirginiaDOT.org.
The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.
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Chris Graham
