VDOT SCHEDULES ROUTE 696 BRIDGE PUBLIC HEARING IN ALLEGHANY COUNTY   Staunton, VA (March 28, 2017) - The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing concerning improvements to Route 696 (Selma-Low Moor Road) in Alleghany County. The meeting will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 30, at the Alleghany County Administration Building, 9212 Winterberry Avenue, Covington, Virginia 24426. Citizens can come in during the meeting hours and discuss the project on a one-on-one basis with VDOT officials and designers. Written comments can be submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date to Mr. James Johnston, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 811 Commerce Road, Staunton, VA 24401-9029. Oral comments can be recorded at the meeting with the assistance of a court reporter. The purpose of this project is to replace the existing Karnes Creek bridges on Route 696 and Route 1308 (Garland Road) with a single structure on Route 696. Replacement of the Route 1308 bridge will require relocation of part of the roadway and development of a new intersection with Route 696. The current Route 1308 bridge will be removed. The new bridge on Route 696 would be 65 feet long and 40 feet wide, with two 11-foot lanes and 7-foot 10-inch shoulders. The roadway approaches will more closely meet current design standards. Relocating a portion of Route 1308 to a new intersection with Route 696 will eliminate the need for the current bridge on Route 1308. This proposed project is approximately 0.07-mile long, and extends from 0.01-mile west of Route 616 (Rich Patch Road) to 0.08-mile west of Route 616. The project is also about 0.3-mile southeast of Interstate 64 (Exit 21). Design plan approval is anticipated in summer 2017. Right of way acquisition would begin in fall 2017, and the project would be advertised for construction in summer 2019. Route 696 has an average traffic count of 2,100 vehicles a day, with a projected traffic volume of 3,087 vehicles a day in the year 2041. Route 1308 has an average traffic count of 31 vehicles a day, with a projected traffic volume of 46 vehicles a day in the year 2041. The total estimated cost for the project is $2,789,401, which includes $625,202 for preliminary engineering, $380,541 for right of way and $1,783,658 for construction. The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

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