VDOT News - Salem

SALEM – A road project to improve a portion of 13^th Street SE in Roanoke is set to begin.  Located in a residential neighborhood just east of downtown Roanoke, this project will improve traffic flow and connectivity along 13^th Street SE between Church Avenue and Norfolk Avenue.

Starting November 3, a long-term traffic change will be put into place that will remain throughout most of the project. Southbound 13^th Street traffic will be detoured using Norfolk Avenue onto 12^th Street to Tazewell Avenue. Signs will be posted to designate the detour route. Northbound 13^th Street will remain open to traffic.

The project entails reconstructing about 0.2-mile of 13^th Street as an improved, two-lane roadway with 10.5-foot-wide travel lanes.  The intersection at 13^th Street and Wise Avenue will be reconfigured to include a roundabout for improved traffic flow. In addition, a new section of roadway will be built to extend 13^th Street beyond its intersection with Wise Avenue to connect to Norfolk Avenue.

The project also includes constructing a raised median on 13^th Street that will consolidate access points along the roadway and better separate pedestrians from traffic at designated crossings.  

Five-foot-wide bike lanes and five-foot-wide sidewalks will be added along both directions of 13^th Street for the entire length of the project. Curb and gutter will also be installed for a majority of the project.

The contractor, Allegheny Construction Company Inc. of Roanoke, was awarded a $5.8 million contract for this project in September.  The Virginia Department of Transportation will administer the project.

Work on the project is expected to be completed in summer 2023.

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