The Virginia Department of Transportation will perform a sequenced reopening of lanes on Route 522 (North Frederick Pike) in the vicinity of a rockslide that occurred in Frederick County on January 13, 2023.
On January 13, VDOT immediately closed the Route 522 northbound lanes west of Winchester from Route 608 (Hunting Ridge Road) to Route 684 (Gainesboro Road). A detour on the southbound lanes accommodated all northbound and southbound traffic. Route 522 had a single southbound lane and a single northbound lane in this area. On January 24 all Route 522 lanes were closed for several hours out of caution due observed slide activity. VDOT officials were able to examine the site and determine the slide was stabilized enough to reopen the southbound lanes.
Work to stabilize the slide area was completed on February 8. VDOT contracted with General Excavation Inc. (GEI) of Warrenton, Virginia to perform the slope repairs.
VDOT crews have temporarily placed hay bales, which will be eventually replaced with fencing, along the northbound lane ditch line. The hay bales will provide a barrier between any small falling debris and passing traffic.
Traffic will be restored to all Route 522 lanes using a sequenced plan.
On Friday, February 10 at 6 a.m. all northbound lanes will reopen. The southbound lanes will have single lane traffic in the right lane only.
Between 6 a.m. and noon signs and traffic cones will be removed from the southbound lanes. Motorists are requested to stay in the right southbound lane, even after the cones are removed from the roadway.
At noon on February 10 single lane traffic on the southbound lanes will end. All southbound traffic will proceed behind a slow-roll work zone assisted by the Virginia State Police. During the slow roll, crews will sweep up accumulated debris away from the left lane and roadway center. This operation is expected to take about an hour. Southbound traffic will travel behind the slow-role operations during this work. Motorists should expect some delays.
All Route 522 lanes will be open to normal operations once the sweeping work is complete.
Slope stabilization will be enhanced when seed is applied and a vegetative base develops in the coming weeks.
Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at http://www.511Virginia.org.
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