A safety and resurfacing project on Route 610 (Old Plank Road) in Spotsylvania County will begin next week to reduce the risk of crashes and deliver a smoother travel surface.
Road shoulders will be widened between Route 3 (Plank Road) and Route 612 (Catharpin Road). That means a nearly four-mile section of Old Plank will be widened by up to 2 feet on each side of the road.
Shoulder widening provides more recovery space for drivers if their vehicles strays from the travel lanes. The project is intended to reduce the risk of crashes and injuries that can result from vehicles running off the road.
Widening work will start at 9 a.m. Monday, with a mobile work zone operation between Route 3 and Catharpin. Travelers will encounter one-way, alternating traffic in the work zone. A flagging crew will direct traffic.
Work will occur between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays for approximately four weeks, weather permitting.
The widening work is scheduled to occur before Old Plank Road is resurfaced.
A new layer of asphalt will cover the widened area to create a uniform appearance and smoother travel surface. New centerline and edge-line lane markings will be painted for a brighter, more reflective appearance.
The project, a partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Spotsylvania County, is expected to be complete by the end of June.
Old Plank carries an average of 3,300 vehicles a day between Route 3 and Catharpin.
