By Mary King, staff writer
Congestion on West Main and Fourth streets in Salem should be reduced by 1987 with the anticipated completion of three highway projects.
In 1984, the Virginia Department of Highways ad Transportation approved the five-laning of West Main Street from Fourth Street to Texas Hollow Road and the four laning of Fourth street from West Main Street to Elm Avenue. This year, the department approved a $3 million project to extend the five-widening lane of West Main Street to the west city limits.
Anticipated cost of the projects is expected to be $8.1 million. The cost will be shared by federal, state and city governments.
According to B.W. Sumpter, the Salem District engineer for the Department of Highways and Transportation, the department expects to bid the projects in May 1986, with construction beginning in July. He said construction is expected to continue through1986 and probably into 1987.
On Fourth Street, plans are to widen the street to four lanes, beginning at West Main Street and extending .4 miles southeastward to Elm Avenue. Estimated cost f this project s $1.3 million.
On West Main Street, plans are to improve the existing facilities to provide for two, twelve-foot-wide lanes for each direction of traffic, separated by a 12-foot-wide left turn lane. Estimated cost of these projects which will stretch 1.6 miles from Fourth Street to Texas Hollow Road and .8 miles from Texas Hollow Road to the West City limits I $6.8 million.
Roanoke County also attempted this year to have the five-laning of West Main Street extended from Salem’s west city limits to Rt 612 in Roanoke County but the Highway commission did not include the project in the six-year plan.
Sumpter said the project was tentatively approved by the commission and would be given serious consideration next year.
-Prepared by Shelly Koon
