An intersection improvement project near Saluda began last week. Work will be underway there through July 1.

Kelly Hannon, spokesperson for the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Fredericksburg District, said recently that the project is being undertaken to make it safer for motorists to travel across four lanes of Route 17 from School Street (near Middlesex High School) to reach the Food Lion supermarket on 17.

Entrances to the Food Lion will remain open throughout the project, Hannon said.

Plans call for the existing median at that intersection to be modified. A new crossover will be built to the north of the existing crossover, with channelized lanes to be built at the intersection.

Instead of motorists having to fight to get across four lanes of traffic, Hannon said, they will only have to cross two lanes and then be in a protected channel to wait until it is safe to cross the other two lanes.

In May, left turn lanes on Route 17 north- and southbound will be closed ...