Virginia Smart Road | |
---|---|
Route information | |
Maintained by Virginia Department of Transportation | |
Length | 2.2 mi [1] (3.5 km) future length 5.7 mi (9.2 km) |
Existed | March 2000 (phase one)–present |
Major junctions | |
West end | Western turnaround loop at Transportation Research Drive |
East end | Eastern turnaround loop near Wilson Creek Bridge |
Location | |
Country | United States |
State | Virginia |
Counties | Montgomery County, Virginia |
Highway system | |
The Virginia Smart Road, also known as simply the Smart Road or Smart Highway, [2] is a short, limited-access road in Montgomery County, Virginia, used for the testing of pavement technologies and as a proving ground for new transportation technologies. The road is not open to the public. The Smart Road is currently a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) stretch of road with turn-around loops at either end. Eventually, the road will be extended to a total of 5.7 miles (9.2 km), directly connecting U.S. Route 460 in Blacksburg to Interstate 81 with an interchange near mile marker 121; however, there is yet to be a set time frame for completion. The Wilson Creek Bridge was built for the Smart Road and, at 175 feet (53 m) tall, is the second tallest bridge in Virginia. [3] The road and bridge are operated and maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation. [1] It is was of the proposed Interstate 73 Corridor.
Smart Road features and operations include, but are not limited to: [1]
Phase | Project | Completion |
---|---|---|
1 | 1.78 mi (2.86 km) two-lane testbed with western end turnaround | March 2000 |
2 | 2,000 ft (610 m) Wilson Creek Bridge and eastern end turnaround | May 2001 |
3 | 3.7 mi (6.0 km) extension to I-81 at mile marker 121 | TBA |
Future | Widening entire 5.7 mi (9.2 km) roadway to four lanes | TBA |
In 1994, VDOT unveiled two alternate routes for the Smart Road partially to avoid smooth purple coneflower populations in Ellett Valley. [4]
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