COURTLAND
Last month, a large sinkhole developed on Route 567 (Old Place Road) from heavy rains that pounded Western Tidewater on consecutive days. The Virginia Department of Transportation temporarily closed the road for emergency, short-term repairs, and the road was reopened shortly thereafter.

The department awarded a contract last week to Curtis Contracting for $259,000 to do permanent repairs to the culvert over Sweat Swamp. A concrete start date has yet to be determined for the work.

“We are waiting for the contractor to tell us when they can begin,” spokeswoman Laurie Simmons said. “They estimate their start date to be within the next two weeks.”

Once work begins, Simmons said that it is estimated to be completed within three weeks. The road will be closed entirely until the repairs are finished.

A detour will be set up to help traffic avoid the closure. To steer clear of Route 657, motorists will be directed to turn onto Route 658 (Barrow Road) and travel approximately two miles before turning onto Route 609 (Pope’s Station Road), which ends at Route 693 (Garris Mill Road), one-fifth of a mile from Route 657’s end.

Additional construction will be taking place on Route 619 (Burdette Road) beginning this Monday, June 1. The bridge over the Black Creek will be under flagger control, as state maintenance crews perform steel repairs to the structure.

“We should be done in two weeks, weather permitting,” Simmons said.

For more information regarding the Virginia Department of Transportation maintenance and construction work around the county, contact Simmons at 925-1647.