VDOT provides updates on Virginia roadways after Helene

GRAYSON COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) – Around 400 roads in Virginia were closed when the remnants of Helene moved through over a week ago.

Since then, VDOT crews have worked around the clock to open most of them back up, with only 13 secondary roads and two primary roads left to repair.

“The fact that we are able to safely and quickly get a lot of these roads back open, it’s a testament to just how much work is being done, just around the district and across the state,” said Joey Barker, the VDOT Bristol district communications specialist.

The two main roads crews are still working on are Route 21 in Grayson County and Route 58 in Damascus. They were completely swept over by water and yards of debris, causing them to be severely damaged.

While crews are putting rocks back in to stabilize and rebuild Route 21, Barker also said they are making progress despite a few challenges.

“Just the steepness of the slope and just the sheer terrain that they have to deal with, it’s pretty tough to have to deal with that., but these guys are professionals. They’ve been doing it for a long time,“ said Barker.

Due to the extent of the damage, there is no set reopen date for Route 58 in Damascus at this time.

It is expected to take four to five weeks to reopen Route 21 in Grayson County.

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