Virginia Smart Road
The Virginia Smart Road, also known as simply the Smart Road or Smart Highway,[2] is a short, limited access road in Montgomery County, Virginia used for the testing of pavement technologies and as a proving ground for new transportation technologies. The Smart Road is currently a 2.2-mile (3.5 km) stretch of road with turn-around loops at either end. Eventually, the road will be extended to a total of 5.7 miles (9.2 km), which will directly connect U.S. Route 460 in Blacksburg to Interstate 81 with an interchange near mile marker 121; however, there is no set time frame for completion. The Wilson Creek Bridge was built for the Smart Road and, at 175 feet (53 m) tall, is the tallest bridge in Virginia. The road and bridge are operated and maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation.[1]
| Virginia Smart Road | |
|---|---|
| Route information | |
| Maintained by Virginia Department of Transportation | |
| Length: |
2.2 mi[1] (3.5 km) future length 5.7 mi (9.2 km) |
| Existed: | March 2000 (phase one) – present |
| Major junctions | |
| West end: | Western turnaround loop at Transportation Research Drive |
| East end: | Eastern turnaround loop near Wilson Creek Bridge |
| Location | |
| Counties: | Montgomery County, Virginia |
| Highway system | |
Segments
| Phase | Project | Completion |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.78 mi (2.86 km) two-lane testbed with western end turnaround | March 2000 |
| 2 | 2,000 ft (610 m) Wilson Creek Bridge and eastern end turnaround | May 2001 |
| 3 | 3.7 mi (6.0 km) extension to I-81 at mile marker 121 | TBA |
| Future | Widening entire 5.7 mi (9.2 km) roadway to four lanes | TBA |
External links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "The Virginia Smart Road". Virginia Tech Transportation Institute. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
- ↑ Kozel, Scott M. (February 19, 2004). "The Smart Road". Roads of the Future. Retrieved 2009-05-04.