RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Sandy Myers (540) 332-9201 Sandy.Myers@vdot.virginia.gov Cellular: (540) 292-2500

STA-120 Aug. 15, 2008

VDOT ESTABLISHES NEW SPEED ZONES IN SHENANDOAH COUNTY AND CLARKE COUNTY

STAUNTON – The Virginia Department of Transportation will be changing the speed limit on portions of Old Valley Pike (Route 11), Ridgely Road (Route 661) and Rockville Road (Route 731) in Shenandoah County. It will also change the speed limit on portions of Stringtown Road (Route 654) in Clarke County.

In Shenandoah County, the speed limit will be reduced from 55 miles per hour to 50 miles per hour on Route 11, from .5 miles south of Hoover Road (Route 605 west) to .19 mile north of Hoover Road, at the southern corporate limits of the Town of Woodstock.

On Route 661 from Route 11 to Franley Lane (Route 802) the speed limit will change from an unposted statutory limit of 55 miles per hour and 45 miles per hour for trucks to 45 miles per hour for this entire 1.76 mile length of road.

On Route 731 from Pinewoods Road (Route 730) to Turkey Knob Road (Route 698) the speed limit will change from an unposted statutory limit of 55 miles per hour and 45 miles per hour for trucks to 35 miles per hour for this entire .84 mile length of road.

In Clarke County, the speed limit will change on Route 654 from Kimble Road (Route 653) to Summit Point Road (Route 611) from an unposted statutory limit of 55 miles per hour and 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour for this entire 1.64 mile length of road.

The change will be effective after the erection of signs at the new speed zones. The projected installation is scheduled for sometime in August according to VDOT Edinburg residency and VDOT Luray residency officials.
All work is weather permitting.

The new speed zones will improve safety of roadway users within Shenandoah and Clarke counties.
VDOT made the speed zone changes following a speed study. The study was initiated following a request from the Clarke County Board of Supervisors and several business owners. The new speed zones were approved on August 4, 2008 by VDOT Chief Engineer Malcolm T. Kerley, P.E. and VDOT Chief of Systems Operations Constance S. Sorrell.

Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. In areas where 511 is unavailable, dial 1-866-MY511VA (695-1182). (TTY/TDD users, call 711). Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at 511Virginia.org.

Highway safety is everyone’s responsibility. Virginia’s highway safety partnership — the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Virginia State Police — challenges you to help prevent highway fatalities. Buckle up. Avoid distractions. Share the road. Drive drug- and alcohol-free. Obey speed limits. For more information on the Highway Safety Challenge and things you can do to avoid becoming Virginia’s next traffic fatality, visit www.safeVAhighways.org.