STEPHEN H. COWLES/CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Playback58@gmail.com

COURTLAND—A public information open house on the Route 58 concrete rehabilitation project will be held 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 4, at Southampton Middle School, 23450 Southampton Pkwy.

Nora Chivers, public information officer for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Hampton Roads District, said this work would “in essence, extend the life of the roadway.”

Work is in progress on the $7.8 million project, which will affect residents, businesses and travelers from Courtland to Capron. Completion is anticipated by Sept. 20, said Chivers.

She added that the contractor on the project is Hi-Way Paving, Inc., based out of Hilliard, Ohio.

As with any major roadwork, there are challenges for all concerned. These will include speeds reduced from 60 mph to 50 mph in construction zones, traffic reduced to one lane, double-faced concrete barriers between construction and traffic, and shifting traffic from westbound lanes to a single eastbound lane in late June.

In addition to adding to Route 58’s “lifespan,” there will be updates to signs, road markings, shoulders and the drainage system. A temporary access road will be built along westbound Route 58.

“Work is being done in phases to reduce the amount of inconvenience to travelers,” said Chivers.

There are three stages, with the second part started first in order to reduce an impact on school transportation.

This phase will be 2.2 miles long and will include a 7-inch unbonded concrete overlay and patch.

Temporary median crossovers and a gravel road will also be used. Right turns only available on the eastbound lane. An emergency access will be at Rawlings Road (Route 654).

Phase Three is expected to begin July 28. This will be 2.6 miles long with a 4-inch bonded overlay, reinforced eastbound right shoulder, and temporary median crossovers and access road. Lanes will shift from two eastbound lanes to a single one. An emergency access is at Route 652.

“Basically, the difference between the two overlay treatments is the layer depth and the existing roadway condition,” said Chivers.

Phase One is expected to start July 31, and will include a complete reconstruction of one-third of a mile, with a temporary access road on the north side of the westbound lane. Median breaks for business access will be between Route 653 and Route 671.