Changes ahead for Greenview Drive in Lynchburg

Construction has begun on the first phase of the Greenview Drive widening, a major project expected to take about a year to complete.

The busy road will remain open to vehicles throughout construction, although drivers are advised by the city to expect changing traffic patterns and possible delays.

The speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph in the construction zone — a change that will be permanent upon the project’s completion.

City officials recommend finding alternate routes when possible.

Greenview Drive is being widened from two to four lanes. The first phase of work extends between Frederick Drive and Hermitage Road, and includes utility work, new curbs and gutters, sidewalks, street lighting and traffic signals.

The project — which shot up the city’s list of priorities following the approval of Cornerstone, a development bringing hundreds of new homes to the corridor — has a budget of $3 million.

Funding is coming from the city budget and already has been allocated. The second phase, which will carry through to the Leesville Road intersection, will be bankrolled by a

combination of local, state and federal money.

On Tuesday, the city announced work had begun on phase one. Traffic Engineer Gerry Harter said the first order of business is building a temporary lane of traffic on the eastbound side of the road.

Vehicles will then be rerouted, allowing traffic to continue flowing while construction takes place on the westbound side.

Counts & Dobyns Inc. of Rustburg is handling the construction work.

The Greenview Drive project’s second phase has no concrete start date, but will not begin until phase one is complete. The city is now beginning the bidding process for engineering work on that later stage.