Motorists traveling through the Apperson Drive and Orchard Drive area should expect overnight traffic disruptions this week as work continues on a major intersection improvement project.
According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, overnight lane closures and flagging operations on Apperson Drive (Route 11) began Tuesday, June 9, and are scheduled to continue through Thursday morning. The work is being conducted between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. each night, weather permitting.
The most significant traffic impact is expected tonight, June 11, when Orchard Drive will be closed from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. Friday. A detour will be in place during the closure, and the roadway is expected to reopen by 7 a.m. Friday.
Apperson Drive will remain open throughout the project, although motorists should anticipate delays during nighttime work hours and use caution in the construction zone.
The work is part of a safety improvement project at the intersection of Apperson Drive and Orchard Drive. Plans include installation of a new traffic signal that will be coordinated with the nearby signal at Route 419, construction of a new right-turn lane from eastbound Apperson Drive onto southbound Orchard Drive, and reconfiguration of the eastbound approach to provide separate right-turn, through and left-turn lanes.
Transportation officials say the improvements are intended to enhance traffic flow and safety at the intersection.
The project is expected to be completed by late fall 2026.
