Starting Monday, the Virginia Department of Transportation will begin reconstructive maintenance work to strengthen the travel surface of Guinea Road (Route 216) in lower Gloucester County.
Motorists may encounter one-way, alternating traffic on Guinea Road between sunrise and sunset on weekdays, a VDOT release stated. If work is canceled on a weekday for rain, crews may work on a Saturday.
The road will undergo a full depth reclamation, which will resurface the road over 3.6 miles, across both lanes, with multiple layers of asphalt. This project will strengthen the road to extend its life span and improve its ability to carry heavy vehicle traffic.
Crews will start construction near Achilles Elementary School and progress west toward the Route 17 intersection.
Full depth reclamation work is estimated to take between three to four weeks to complete. This requires crews to remove the existing asphalt material to a depth of around 4 inches. Next, crews stabilize and compact existing pavement to the road’s base material, at a depth of around 12 inches.
Once stabilized, a single seal surface treatment layer is applied over the stabilized base material. Finally, multiple layers of asphalt are applied as the final pavement.
The project is expected to be completed before Sept.1.
Drivers can expect a temporary rough ride in the work zone during construction. Once the single seal surface treatment layer is applied, it must cure for several weeks. Drivers will be able to drive on the road during this time. Once the surface treatment has cured, crews will return and apply the final layer of asphalt.
The speed limit on Guinea Road in the work zone will be reduced temporarily from 45 mph to 35 mph when construction begins. Work zone speed limit signs will be installed and covered ahead of the project, and will be uncovered once work starts.
Message boards will be placed on Guinea Road prior to the start of work, alerting motorists to the upcoming project and temporary speed limit.
Construction equipment will be staged at the Park and Ride commuter lot at Guinea Road and York Crossing Drive. Approximately 12 parking spaces will remain open to the public. Access will also be maintained throughout the project to the Gloucester County Hayes Convenience Center.