The "Smart" Highway

The "smart" highway had its humble beginnings over a decade ago, as Roanoke Valley governments were looking for a direct link highway to Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. This new section of Virginia highway will link Interstate 81 where State Route 641 intersects and run northwest across predominately rural countryside to Blacksburg. There, it will connect with the new 3A -U.S.460 By-Pass just north of the Holiday Inn in Blacksburg on U.S.460.

Initially, only a 2 mile portion of this 6 mile highway will be constructed. It will be used as a research test-bed for Virginia Tech's Center for Transportation Research. Eventually, this new corridor will be a 4-lane highway with long-term plans utilizing this stretch of highway for the newly proposed Interstate 73. Original efforts for this initiative were to relieve much of the traffic congestion along U.S.460 from Christiansburg to Blacksburg. Much of the traffic volume traveling between these two communities originate outside the area, but must pass through in order to get to the university.

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Last Edited: 1-25-01