Fort Lewis Church Road bridge closure to impact Roanoke County residents as replacement work begins March 21
Roanoke, Virginia – A temporary road closure will soon impact residents in Roanoke County as crews prepare to replace a bridge along Fort Lewis Church Road. Officials say the closure will require careful planning for those who live in the area, but steps have been put in place to ensure continued access to homes during construction.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced that, weather permitting, work will begin on Saturday, March 21, with the bridge over Stypes Branch on Route 777 (Fort Lewis Church Road) scheduled to close for approximately eight days.
The bridge is located 0.28 mile south of Route 793 (Artrip Lane) and 0.2 mile north of Route 828 (Tobey Road), placing it in a key area for local traffic and nearby residents.
Road Closure and Shuttle Plan for Residents
From March 21 through March 28, vehicles will not be able to cross the bridge while construction is underway. During this time, residents who live in the affected area will need to use alternative arrangements provided by county officials.
To assist those impacted, residents will be allowed to park their vehicles at Glenvar High School, where transportation services will be available.
A shuttle system has been organized to help residents travel between their homes and their parked vehicles. The shuttle buses will begin operating at 7 a.m. on Saturday, March 21, when the road officially closes.
Officials say the shuttle service will run 24 hours a day for the entire duration of the closure, ensuring that residents can travel at any time.
Residents can request transportation by calling 540-330-5472, which will connect them with ADA-accessible shuttle buses operating on both sides of the closure.
To help residents prepare ahead of time, parking at Glenvar High School will be available starting at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 20. A shuttle will also operate that evening from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to transport residents back to their homes after parking their vehicles.
Pedestrian Access and Additional Closures
In addition to the shuttle service, a temporary pedestrian bridge will be installed over Stypes Branch. This will allow residents to cross on foot to Stypes Branch Road, which will remain open throughout construction.
Once across the pedestrian bridge, residents can then connect with the shuttle service to reach their homes.
The construction work will also affect nearby roads. Officials say Tobey Road will be closed at the intersection with Fort Lewis Church Road to allow space for crane placement and storage of materials needed for the bridge replacement.
Because of this, drivers are encouraged to use an alternate route to reach Glenvar High School, with West Main Street recommended as the best option.
To keep the public informed, electronic message boards will be placed in the area to alert motorists about the closure and construction schedule.
Residents can also call the shuttle number to receive updates on the progress of the project and to learn when the bridge is expected to reopen.
For broader travel planning, officials recommend using VDOT’s 511 free mobile app or the 511 website, which provides up-to-date road conditions and helps drivers plan routes during construction.
While the temporary closure may cause inconvenience, officials say the project is necessary to replace the aging bridge and improve safety for the community in the long term.
