The Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Mar. 9 that overnight road closures and traffic shifts will begin March 16 as part of safety improvements at the intersection of Apperson Drive and Orchard Drive in Salem.
The project aims to enhance safety and traffic flow at a busy intersection, affecting local drivers with temporary detours and lane changes. The improvements are scheduled to be completed by late fall 2026.
Starting the evening of March 16, Orchard Drive will be closed between Apperson Drive and Tremont Road from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for three nights to allow drainage work. A detour will be in place during these hours, with the road expected to reopen by 7 a.m. on March 19. Beginning March 20, eastbound traffic on Apperson Drive toward Route 419 (Electric Road) will shift lanes, a change that will remain until May 15. Despite these adjustments, Apperson Drive will stay open throughout the project duration.
Electronic message boards and signs will notify drivers about upcoming changes in traffic patterns, with updates provided as needed. The construction includes installing a new traffic signal at the intersection of Apperson Drive and Orchard Drive, which will be coordinated with an existing signal on Route 419. Additionally, a new right turn lane from eastbound Apperson Drive onto southbound Orchard Drive is planned, along with reconfiguring eastbound lanes to provide separate right turn, through, and left turn options.
According to the official website, the Virginia Department of Transportation is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating roads, bridges, and tunnels across Virginia to support safe transportation systems. The agency manages one of the largest state highway networks in the country—covering tens of thousands of lane-miles—and provides services such as highway maintenance and traffic management through systems like Virginia 511 according to its official website. VDOT also oversees land-use permits along state routes according to its official website.
The department has evolved since its origins as the State Highway Commission in 1906 into an agency overseeing planning, construction, and maintenance for Virginia’s transportation infrastructure according to its official website. Its headquarters are located at 1221 East Broad Street in Richmond according to its official website.
As work progresses through late fall next year, drivers are encouraged to pay attention to posted signs for up-to-date information about changing conditions.
