The Virginia Department of Transportation announced on March 19 that a section of Route 637 (North Hopkins Road) between U.S. 1 and the railroad crossing in Richmond will be closed for six weeks to allow for the realignment of Hopkins Road and Harwood Street. The closure and detour are scheduled to begin Monday, March 23, after the morning commute.
The project aims to condense two current intersections into one by realigning Hopkins Road and Harwood Street at U.S. 1. Additional improvements include a new 12-foot turn lane on northbound U.S. 1, installation of a new watermain system, new sidewalks, as well as curb and gutter upgrades.
During construction, motorists are advised to follow posted detours: southbound traffic should continue on U.S. 1 to Cofer Road before returning to Hopkins Road, while northbound traffic should take southbound Hopkins Road to Cofer Road and then back onto U.S. 1.
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 and efficient transportation. The agency manages one of the largest state highway systems in the country with tens of thousands of lane-miles statewide according to VDOT. Services provided by VDOT include highway maintenance, traffic management through systems like Virginia 511, and oversight of land-use permits along state routes according to VDOT.
VDOT serves as a state agency overseeing planning, construction, and maintenance of road infrastructure according to VDOT. The department has evolved since its origins as the State Highway Commission in 1906 according to VDOT, with headquarters located at 1221 East Broad Street in Richmond according to VDOT.
Anyone with questions about this project can contact VDOT’s customer service center at 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623).
