VDOT expects ‘long-term closure’ of Route 460 in Giles County following mudslide near West Virginia border

UPDATE 3:46 p.m.: Motorists can expect potential delays along Route 460 from Route 61 to Gentrys Lane, Riveside Drive, and Route 712 until June 6 due to maintenance activities work following the mudslide in Giles County, according to VDOT’s 511 website update.

GILES COUNTY, Va. (WFXR) — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced Saturday the closure of U.S. Route 460 in Giles County following a mudslide a few miles east of the West Virginia border.

On Friday, May 22, VDOT announced eastbound and westbound lane reductions between Route 61 and Route 643 (State Line Road) after a mudslide took place about a mile west of the Town of Narrows. Officials say the mudslide collapsed portions of the roadway and damaged a retaining wall.

TRAFFIC ALERT – GILES COUNTY:
Mudslide on RT 460 in @GilesCoVa. Reduced to one lane until further notice in each direction about five miles east of WV state line. The left EB lane & left WB lane closed between RT 61 & RT 643 (Stateline Road). Please do NOT go around barricades. pic.twitter.com/aOsel6FsPd
— VDOT Salem (@VaDOTSalem) May 23, 2020

However, on Saturday, May 23, VDOT announced that all eastbound and westbound lanes on Route 460 are closed about five miles east of the West Virginia state line.

VDOT says drivers traveling in or out of Virginia will need to use I-77 as an alternative route during this closure.

TRAFFIC ALERT UPDATE: RT 460 CLOSED IN @GilesCoVa #VIRGINIA – Sat., May 23, ALL LANES of RT 460, 5 miles east of West Virginia border, closed due to mudslide. Drivers use I-77 traveling in/out of #Virginia. More info at https://t.co/WqbPOfqSZh @GCoLatest @TownofNarrows @VaDOT pic.twitter.com/nxjO0xpR61
— VDOT Salem (@VaDOTSalem) May 23, 2020

In particular, officials say Virginia motorists heading into West Virginia from Roanoke, Blacksburg, and other locations east of the border will need to follow I-81 to Wytheville and detour onto I-77 North at Exit 72. Meanwhile, eastbound traffic along Route 460 from West Virginia will be detoured off at I-77 South onto I-81 North, according to VDOT.

According to VDOT’s news release on Saturday afternoon, “The Virginia Department of Transportation expects this to be a long-term closure possibly lasting weeks, but an exact time for reopening Route 460 has not been established.”