STAUNTON – A rockslide has closed all northbound and southbound lanes on a segment of the Route 522 (North Frederick Pike) west of Winchester. Route 522 lanes are closed from Route 608 (Hunting Ridge Road) to Route 684 (Gainesboro Road).
The Virginia Department of Transportation has set up a detour:
For northbound Route 522, there will be a right lane closure south of Route 654 (Marple Road) with traffic detouring south on Route 654 and then head west on Route 679 (Indian Hollow Road) and then north on Route 600 (North Hayfield Road) and then south on Route 684 to Route 522.
For southbound Route 522 traffic, a left lane closure will be located north of Route 684 (Gainesboro Road). Traffic will be detoured north on Route 684 and then south on Route 600 (North Hayfield Road) and then east on Route 50 (Northwestern Pike) to north on Route 37 and then onto Route 522.
Emergency vehicles will be allowed to use the closed Route 522 lanes.
The rockslide occurred around 11 p.m. on Friday, January 13. The Route 522 northbound lanes were immediately closed by VDOT. Upon inspection in the daylight hours of Saturday, January 14 a more significant slope failure was discovered above the rockslide location. VDOT has contracted with General Excavation Inc. (GEI) of Warrenton, Virginia to perform the slope repairs. Repairs began at the top of the slide area and proceeded down. On Tuesday, January 24 additional cracks and slope failures occurred and continue, causing VDOT to close all lanes of Route 522 in this location. It is unknown when the Route 522 lanes will reopen. Crews and geological staff will continue to work and monitor the site.
In this location the average daily traffic volume is approximately 18,000 vehicles per day.
Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at http://www.511Virginia.org