It’s road paving season in Central Virginia

Paving season has arrived in Central Virginia, where the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Culpeper District has plans to resurface 322 miles along state-maintained routes in its nine counties.

For motorists and residents, $23 million spent on fresh pavement means a high-quality ride, but for VDOT it also represents protection of the commonwealth’s transportation infrastructure. “We carefully plan our paving schedules to provide the biggest benefit to the traveling public at large,” said David Pearce, district maintenance engineer. “We want our roads to be smooth and safe as well as long-lasting.”

This season a section of Interstate 64 in Louisa County and 77 miles of primary and secondary highway will be repaved with plant mix asphalt, including:

• Nearly five miles of Route 15 in Fauquier County
• Portions of Route 22 and Route 250 in Louisa County
• Route 33 in Greene County near Swift Run Gap
• Route 211 north of Sperryville in Rappahannock County
• Just over six miles of Route 250 in eastern Albemarle County

VDOT will spend $6.9 million this season on preventive maintenance of paved roads in the Culpeper District. Almost 75 miles of primary highway will receive latex-modified emulsion treatment, also known as microsurfacing. This durable sealant is applied to slow deterioration, fill in minor cracking and add skid resistance. Another 167 miles of secondary highway will be surface-treated. This tar-and-gravel treatment also works to extend the service life of the pavement.

As VDOT enters its busiest construction season, motorists are urged to drive attentively and reduce speed as they approach a work zone. Put down your phone, obey traffic controls and be prepared to brake for slow-moving equipment entering or exiting the highway.

Roads scheduled for paving statewide can be viewed at www.virginiaroads.org. Culpeper District-specific information is at www.virginiadot.org/projects/culpeper/paving2015.asp.

For more information about VDOT’s paving program or to ask questions about resurfacing in your neighborhood, call the VDOT Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD or email [email protected].