Miles SmithThe Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is planning a $64 million overhaul of a highly traveled highway interchange in Lynchburg.
The project involves converting the cloverleaf interchange between Candlers Mountain Road and the Lynchburg Expressway (U.S. 501/U.S. 29 Business) into a partial cloverleaf and replacing the existing Candlers Mountain Road bridge that runs over the Lynchburg Expressway.
Two loop ramps will be removed to improve weaving along the Lynchburg Expressway. Acceleration and deceleration lanes on the expressway and underneath the bridge will be extended, VDOT said.
The project is in the design phase.
The state expects to go out for construction bids in spring 2026 and begin construction in fall 2026, according to official documents.
The budget breakdown shows $6 million for engineering, $3 million for right-of-way and utilities and $55 million for the construction portion.
Details of the project include:
- Constructing a new bridge over the expressway that will raise the grade along Candlers Mountain Road to allow the new bridge to meet vertical clearance requirements and provide adequate horizontal clearances for acceleration/deceleration lanes underneath the new bridge.
- Building two new 2-phase signalized intersections at the new ramp terminals.
- Modifying access to Seminole Avenue and constructing new bike/pedestrian facilities on Candlers Mountain Road.
Image by Benjamin White from Pixabay
