VDOT completes $120M project on Route 58 between Abingdon & Damascus

BRISTOL, Va. (WJHL) – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) celebrated the completion of a years-long project near Damascus on Wednesday.

According to a news release from VDOT, crews removed the last of the work zone barrels along Route 58, marking the end of the project between Abingdon and Damascus.

The road widening project from Bethel Road to Hollyfield Road started in the fall of 2021 and included the relocation of part of Route 58 and the construction of two new bridges over the South Fork Holston River.

VDOT stated the 3.3-mile project was completed with the help of Kanawha Stone. Some cleanup and finishing work will take place over the course of the next few weeks.

VDOT also worked with the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to create a permanent access point for kayaks and canoes along the river. The access point is located next to the former Route 58 bridge over the South Fork Holston River.

Crews had previously constructed a temporary access road when they removed the former bridge. The access road will be left so the DWR can improve it to add parking and river access. The DWR will manage that site.

The road-widening project on Route 58 will allow for safe four-lane travel through a busy area, VDOT stated in the release.

The road widening project started in 2021, but the entire Route 58 project has been underway since 2003, broken up into four phases, which are now complete.

In total, the project spanned nine miles, cost about $120 million and lasted more than 20 years.

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