SALEM – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) invites the public to attend a virtual design public hearing for a project to replace the existing interchange at Route 419 and Route 220 in Roanoke and Roanoke County with a diverging diamond interchange (DDI).    The hearing will be held on Tuesday, June 29, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. as a virtual event.

To access the hearing information and WebEx, visit the project page at www.virginiadot.org/Route419at220DDI  and click on the link to the virtual design public hearing.   VDOT representatives will make a presentation beginning at 5 p.m. and answer questions through the WebEx Chat function after the presentation is completed.  A recorded version of the presentation will be available on the project page after the hearing.

A DDI is an innovative interchange design that temporarily crosses traffic to the left side of the road.  Constructing a DDI will address current and future congestion and provide enhanced safety, capacity and efficiency. 

The project also includes modifying three signalized intersections along the Route 419 corridor with thru-cut design concepts and signal phase reductions.  The three intersections are at Ogden Road, Elm View Road and South Peak Boulevard.

A thru-cut intersection reduces signal phases by redirecting side-street through traffic to turn left or right at the signal and to turn directly into businesses or to use a nearby crossover to make a U-turn.  With fewer signal phases, more green time can be provided to other traffic movements on Route 419. 

Pedestrian and bicycle accommodations also are included in this project.

Comments can be submitted using one of these methods:

• Completing the comment sheet at the bottom of the virtual design public hearing webpage.
• Emailing them to jesse.weitzenfeld@VDOT.Virginia.gov.  Please reference “Route 419/220 DDI” in the subject line. 
• Mailing them to Jesse Weitzenfeld, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 731 Harrison Avenue, Salem VA 24153.

All comments must be postmarked, emailed or submitted by July 9, 2021.  Anyone requiring special assistance to provide input or ask additional questions may contact VDOT’s Salem District Office at 540-387-5353, 800-367-7623 or TTY/TDD 711.