COURTLAND
The project to eliminate the existing signalized intersection at the Route 58 (Southampton Parkway) and Route 58 Business split that has been in the works for nearly 30 years will finally begin on Monday, March 14. The Virginia Department of Transportation will build two new bridges and construct three ramps to realign Route 742 (Old Bridge Road), with completion scheduled for December 2018.

“The first couple of weeks will consist of shoulder closures, which will not impact traffic,” VDOT Senior Public Affairs Specialist Tiffany Whitfield said. “Then, once construction crews begin work on widening eastbound and westbound Route 58 in the median, there will be alternating lane closures during the first couple of months. Also, construction will begin on the south bridge over the wetlands which will not impact traffic.”

No detours are planned for construction, though temporary lane closures will be set up as needed. The public will be given prior notice for all lane closures.

The $15 million project, awarded earlier this year to Curtis Contracting Inc, was in and out of the Southampton County Board of Supervisors’ six-year plan for much of the past three decades, though an extra push has been made in the last 10 years because of an increase in tractor trailer traffic. Accidents have also become an issue at the intersection because of the high-speed approach from the west.

“The posted speed limit transitions down to 55 miles per hour, and as you can see, [people] travel eight to 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. Bottom line: There is a speed limit issue here,” said Carroll Collins of Kimley-Horn, who conducted a study last year of the Route 58 corridor as requested by the board of supervisors.

All traffic traveling into or around Courtland via Route 58 will pass through the interchange.

The first bridge will span 525 feet with two 12-foot lanes, while the second bridge will be 224 feet in length and with two 12-foot lanes. Two roundabouts and three ramps will be constructed to connect the bridges to Route 58.

Supporting drainage systems and a stormwater facility will also be installed as part of the overall project.

For more information, motorists are asked to visit the project page at http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/hamptonroads/courtland_interchange.asp or call the Traffic Information Line at 361-3016 for the most recent travel information.