WDBJ7 Roanoke News and Weather NRV Lynchburg Danville | Construction finishes up on 221
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Bottlenecks and congestion should be coming to an end in Forest.
A decades long project to widen Route 221 has come to an end.
Cones are coming up and traffic is moving on four new lanes of pavement.
Construction on Route 221 is complete, and business owners along the highway couldn't be happier.
"I think it's great to finally have it done. It's been a long time coming," says Lee Aylor, Co-Owner of Aylor's Farm and Garden.
Lee Aylor has owned a store on 221 since the early 80's.
For most of that time, the road out front was only two lanes and not always good for business.
"We've always had trouble with people trying to get in and out. A lot of times, people will be headed in the other direction before they can stop here," says Aylor.
Safety was a problem too.
"At times, you would see a wreck here almost every week. Somebody would be running into somebody else," says Aylor.
Blame that on how the old road was set up.
"It had limited turn lanes. A lot of people making turns impacted traffic having to slow down," says Jeff Echols, VDOT Construction Engineer.
The wider road lets traffic keep moving.
"The improvements here will certainly help with the traffic flow. Access to the properties. Safety issues of intersections," says Echols.
This stretch of 221 can now handle 33,000 vehicles per day. VDOT doesn't expect that much traffic for at least another 20 years, but with new businesses popping up every day, the road is getting more congested.
"Oh, it's tremendous. I mean, it's just been a whole lot of development out here," says Aylor.
Aylor's farm business "sprouted" at a time when Forest was still rural.
Now there's new shopping centers.
A new Kroger is almost finished.
Even Taco Bell is opening up.
The larger highway can accomodate all that and more.
"Traffic will be able to flow better and not be quite as congested," says Echols.
Giving Forest a road to the future.
The $15 million widening project was completed on time and on budget.
