The Shadow
ROANOKE?— The USDA Forest Service is repairing three roads in Botetourt, Alleghany and Bath counties this winter. During the repairs, sections of the roads will be closed.
Gas Pipe Road (Forest Service Road No. 354) in Botetourt County, will be temporarily closed for storm damage repairs beginning Jan. 6, and continuing into February.
During the repairs the entire 3.8-mile length of Gas Pipe Road will be closed to public entry.
A quarter-mile portion of Lime Kiln Road (Forest Service Road No. 194) in Bath County will be temporarily closed beginning the week of Jan. 6 for a culvert replacement project.
A new arch culvert will allow fish and other aquatic organisms to travel up and down the stream, improving stream health.
During the project work, the road will be closed to through traffic at milepost 6.9, but the public will still be able to access the majority of Lime Kiln Road by entering either from the north end or south end via State Route 629 (Douthat State Park Road).
The project is expected to be completed the week of Feb. 17.
White Rocks Road (Forest Service Road No. 108) in Alleghany County is currently closed for road repairs including brushing, gravel and grading and will be closed through the end of January.
Access to the trailhead on the south end of the Rich Hole Wilderness trail (Forest Trail No. 464) will not be available until the repairs are complete.
In fiscal years 2019 and 2020 more than 100 miles of road have been maintained and repaired on the James River and Warm Springs ranger districts.
Special funding through the Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads Program and the Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership is being used to repair the damage from prior storm events.
For more information, contact the Warm Springs Ranger District at (540) 839-2521.
