Serving Scott County for
More Than 104 Years!

Phase I Project to Alleviate Bottleneck at Moccasin Gap

Lisa Watson McCarty
Publisher


A map of the Moccasin Gap Project looks
like a like a complicated drawing of lines.

It was something that transportation officials feared might happen an accident in Moccasin Gap that would force a shut down of access into and out of Scott County.

Although an afternoon rush hour traffic accident last Friday wasn't a catastrophic disaster, the result snarled up traffic in the bottleneck known as Moccasin Gap for several hours.

For years local officials complained that a train derailment or other disaster could halt any type of travel into Scott County and other locations to the north. Moccasin Gap has the distinction of being one of three natural gaps in the sprawling mountains of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee.


Full-Sized View

If Moccasin Gap was impassable, then settlers in olden days and drivers of today would have to travel to Abingdon to the east or west to Knoxville, Tenn. to cross the rugged mountaintops.

Earlier on Friday, officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation held a news conference to describe construction plans on the long-awaited Moccasin Gap Interchange. Although the $52 million project with all three phases included has been designed, only the initial Phase I project has been funded and is set to begin shortly.

Elk Knob Inc. of Pennington Gap was awarded the $6.6 million contract to construct Phase One of the Moccasin Gap Bypass in Scott County, which will connect Routes 58, 23 and 224 - Wadlow Gap Road.

During Friday's presentation, Ken Brittle, VDOT Bristol District Construction Engineer and Chad McMurray, VDOT Area Construction Engineer for the Jonesville Residency displayed maps of the new road and explained the details of the Phase I portion.

Brittle said after some local residents expressed concern about topographical issues facing the converging of the roadways, VDOT listened to their solutions.

"This is a very critical segment to the people who live here and those who use this road every day to get to and from work," explained Brittle. "If this pass is blocked off by either a train derailment or some other catastrophic event, you have an artery that leads to hospitals and other care centers essentially cut off. The flow of people and goods would be compromised.

"In designing this project, we hope that the flow of traffic will be tremendously improved by linking 23 and 224 together. A top team of designers and consultants from the state and local level were brought in to study every possible angle, and now we have a road plan that should be effective."

Phase I of the Moccasin Gap project will link Routes 58, 23 and 224 to allow for better traffic flow. Construction on the project, which begins this month, will affect lots of drivers. Highway 23 carries about 30,000 vehicles per day, second only to Interstate 81 in the Bristol District. Approximately 11,000 vehicles travel onto Wadlow Gap Highway (Route 224) and another 3,000 vehicles move onto Route 58.

The plans include widening the existing Highway 23 southbound lanes to accommodate dual left turn lanes onto a newly constructed portion of Wadlow Gap Highway (224). Route 224 will become four lanes on a new location including a new bridge over Big Moccasin Creek.

Two new service roads will be built to provide and maintain access to existing businesses. Brittle added that the service roads also provide an opportunity for economic development.

The point where 58 intersects the interchange will be realigned to a new connection with Route 224 and both traffic signals will be relocated. Lastly the existing bridge spanning Big Moccasin Creek at the VDOT Area Headquarters will be removed.

A total of $13.6 million has been allocated to Phase I of the Moccasin Gap Interchange Project. Preliminary engineering costs were $1.5 million with right-of-way acquisition topping $5.5 million. Construction costs are estimated at $6.6 million.

Elk Knob begins some construction work this week as utility companies complete the relocation of service lines. The project will be finished by July 2008.

Beginning in 1996, the Scott County Board of Supervisors and in particular then Supervisor-at-Large Member Shane Miller pushed for a solution to Scott County's never-ending traffic tie-ups at the intersection. The board attended VDOT's public hearing on primary routes and stated their reasons for needing major improvements in Moccasin Gap.

VDOT officials took note and held a value engineering workshop in April 4, 1997 to discuss the potential project. Three years later on Sept. 29, 2000, local residents had an opportunity to voice their opinion on the project at a location and design public hearing held at the county's vocational school.

Following that public hearing, the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the location and design plan for the Moccasin Gap Interchange in December 2000. Six months later, some parcels were acquired as VDOT began right-of-way acquisitions in May 2001.

As the General Assembly fought over transportation funding over the next few years, $5.5 million was spent in the Moccasin Gap area to acquire homes and businesses located near the new designed road. Eleven homeowners and 22 tenants in apartment buildings along with seven businesses have been affected by the project.

Brittle stated that funding for Phase II and Phase III portions of the project isn't available at this time but he expects the entire project to be completed.

"Our intent is to stay the course," he added. "This project is long-term with a large investment and at VDOT when we start something, we definitely finish it."

Phase II is estimated at $20 million and features a flyover on the side of Moccasin Gap into Route 224. Phase III, commonly called the connector road, links Route 72 with the intersection and is estimated to cost $15 million. Brittle said VDOT plans to go forward with other phases of the project as funding is available.

Not all local residents have been happy about the new interchange. Former Weber City Mayor Greg Smith, the current Scott County Board of Supervisors and the Scott County Economic Development Authority has raised concern over the project.

Smith, who owned a large portion of property in the Moccasin Gap area, questioned why VDOT was eliminating businesses in the area. Earlier this year, supervisors sent a letter to VDOT asking about their plans to relocate signal lights on Highway 23 which eliminated a Weber City business.

And members of the EDA board questioned about the impact of the project on historic Moccasin Gap.

But for now, construction is set to begin this month as Elk Knob starts removing asbestos from some of the acquired properties. During construction, motorists are advised to expect delays and to allow extra time.

VDOT officials say motorists can help reduce work zone congestion by postponing travel during peak morning and afternoon travel times. Additionally motorists who can alter their work schedule or commute will help improve travel through the construction area.

In the coming weeks, motorists should expect temporary land closures due to equipment being moved on-site.

VDOT asks motorists to be patient and expect delays on the project they hope will eliminate the bottleneck in Moccasin Gap.

Business Directory

Vacation Guide