VDOT News - Salem

SALEM – As part of the ongoing project to widen Route 58 over Lovers Leap Mountain in Patrick County, blasting is tentatively scheduled to begin the week of May 23. The first blasting will impact traffic in the vicinity of Dehart Botanical Gardens, approximately 1.7 miles east of the Lovers Leap Mountain overlook and Fred Clifton Park.

For blasting that is close to Route 58, traffic in both directions may be blocked for approximately 15-20 minutes at a time. Drivers and residents along the Route 58 corridor should expect loud noise and allow extra travel time. Electronic message boards will be used to inform drivers of scheduled blasting that will impact traffic.

Intermittent blasting will be scheduled between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays and will begin in spring 2022 and continue at various locations on the project through summer 2025. Approximately 11 million cubic yards of material must be moved as part of the $300 million road widening project.

Detours and long-term closures are not planned as part of the Route 58 Lovers Leap widening project. However, in the event that debris or rock moves into the roadway as part of a blast and a detour is needed, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) reminds drivers that the fluorescent pink posted detour signs are for incidents or emergencies.

VDOT provides notices of traffic incidents through the www.511Virginia.org website and mobile app.  In addition, electronic messages boards will be activated along the Interstate 77 corridor and at some locations along Route 58 in the event of an incident that requires a detour.

The project on Lovers Leap Mountain will improve safety on Route 58 by expanding the road from two lanes to four lanes starting 0.3 mile east of Route 610 (Cloudbreak Road) and extending to 0.7 mile north of Stuart.  Construction is estimated to be completed in late spring 2026.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.