News Releases
The latest new releases from the Office of Public Information appear below.
Past news releases are posted in Adobe PDF format.
For more information, contact:
Teresa Hamilton Hall, Director
Office of Public Information
(540) 772-2010
thall@roanokecountyva.gov
VDOT: Bridge Replacement on Dry Hollow Road Rescheduled
SALEM - The Virginia Department of Transportation has rescheduled a previously announced bridge replacement on Route 649 (Dry Hollow Road) in Roanoke County for Tuesday, Dec. 8.
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For more information:
Jason Bond
540-387-5250
Salem VDOT office
VDOT: Bridge Replacement on Dry Hollow Road Nov 17
SALEM - On Tuesday, Nov. 17, a section of Route 649 (Dry Hollow Road) in Roanoke County will be closed to through traffic from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Route 649 will be closed starting 0.7 mile north of Route 639 (West River Road) and extending to 1.3 miles from the end of state
maintenance.
The road will be closed so the bridge over Dry Hollow Branch can be replaced. This work was previously announced in October but had to be rescheduled.
In addition, motorists should expect delays and watch for flaggers directing traffic in this area during daylight hours on Tuesday, Nov. 18 while crews pave.
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For more information, contact:
Jason Bond
Salem VDOT Office
540-387-5250
Regional Organization Expands as Franklin County Joins the Western Virginia Water Authority
Roanoke County and WVWA Welcome Franklin County as Authority Member
Roanoke, Virginia (November 5, 2009) - A public hearing was jointly held today by the City Council of the City of Roanoke, Virginia, the Boards of Supervisors of Franklin County, Virginia and Roanoke County, Virginia and by the Board of Directors of the Western Virginia Water Authority of Roanoke, Virginia at the Vinton War Memorial, 814 E. Washington Avenue, Vinton, Virginia 24179 for the purpose of receiving public comment on the joinder by Franklin County, Virginia of the Western Virginia Water Authority and on the amendment and restatement of the Articles of Incorporation of the Western Virginia Water Authority accomplishing such purpose.
The Western Virginia Water Authority (Authority) was formed on July 1, 2004 to become a regional entity for providing water and wastewater services to customers in the City of Roanoke and Roanoke County. This regional approach has benefited customers in the Roanoke area and now stands to benefit current Authoirty customers as well as Franklin County by providing adequate water supply, fire protection and wastewater services for all customers for years to come.
Although the Authority and Franklin County have had a very positive working relationship over the past few years, this joinder will solidify and strenghten the partnership. Based on recommendations in the 2003 Long Range Water Supply Study to utilize multiple water sources, the Authority began working closely with Franklin County to establish a central water system. Franklin County and the Authority have also worked cooperatively to acquire several privately owned water systems in the Smith Mountain Lake area and to obtain funding to extend the Westlake water system along Scruggs Road. A joint project with the County of Roanoke is in progress to extend water to the Wirtz Plateau area via the U.S. Route 220 water line. In the future, these interconnections will provide reliable water sources for all customers, especially during times of drought.
In addition, the Authority has worked in partnership with Franklin County to acquire the Westlake sewer system. This acquisition makes public sewer available to the commercial area of Westlake and is the first step in beginning a public sewer system for Franklin County.
In 2004, it was clear that an organization that spanned localities was the logical unit to manage water resources and wastewater services. This idea is still true today as Franklin County joins the Western Virginia Water Authority, creating better rate stability, drought protection and infrastructure planning and maintenance for all regional customers.
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News Release: Western Virginia Water Authority Welcomes Franklin Co.
For more information, contact:
Sarah Baumgardner
Environmental Communications Coordinator
Western Virginia Water Authority
(540) 853-5707
sarah.baumgardner@westernvawater.org
Larry Moore
Assistant County Administrator
Franklin County, Virginia
(540) 483-3030
larrymoore@franklincountyva.org
Roanoke County's First Roundabout Opens on Colonial Ave.
The new roundabout is expected to improve traffic flow
SALEM – On Thursday, Nov. 5, the first roundabout in Roanoke County is expected to open on Route 720 (Colonial Avenue) at the intersection with Route 687 (Penn Forest Boulevard). The roundabout is part of a larger road improvement project that is designed to improve traffic flow on Colonial Avenue.
The first phase of the construction project started in June and included the replacement of the Route 720 bridge over Mudlick Creek with a 72-inch pipe, the installation of the roundabout, utility work, paving and grading. Subsequent work will include the straightening of curves on Route 720 (Colonial Avenue) and realigning the intersection of Route 720 and Girard Drive, as well as some grading and drainage work. The project is expected to be completed in August 2010.
Roundabouts have been shown to reduce fatal and injury crashes by as much as 75 percent. The reduction in crashes is attributed to slower speeds and reduced number of conflict points.
Roundabouts have also been found to increase capacity and reduce delays, as intersections with high volumes of left turns are often better handled by a roundabout than a traffic signal. Additionally, roundabouts eliminate maintenance and electricity costs associated with traffic signals, which could possibly be as much as $5,000 per year per intersection.
VDOT offers the following guidelines for driving in roundabouts:
Right turns
- Slow down and prepare to yield as you approach the roundabout.
- On the approach, you must be in the right lane (if it is a dual lane roundabout).
- You must yield to the traffic already in the roundabout.
- Stay to the right as you approach your turn.
- Place your right turn signal on until you have exited the roundabout.
Straight ahead
- Slow down and prepare to yield as you approach the roundabout.
- Unless signs or lane markings indicate an exclusive right turn, approach in the right lane and stay in that lane through the roundabout.
- If this is a two-lane roundabout and the right lane is blocked by dense traffic or a road obstruction, approach and continue through the roundabout in the left lane.
- You must yield to traffic already in the roundabout.
- Display your right turn signal just past the exit before the one you plan to use.
Left turn or U-turn
- Slow down and prepare to yield as you approach the roundabout.
- Enter the roundabout in the left lane (if it is a two-lane approach) and stay in that lane throughout the roundabout.
- You must yield to traffic already in the roundabout.
- Signal your turn just past the exit prior to the one you will use.
Remember:
- Always yield to pedestrians who may be crossing the road as you approach the roundabout.
- Always watch for pedestrians, bicycle riders and motorcyclists.
- Buses and trucks may need more than one lane to enter or leave a roundabout. Keep clear of them.
- Always yield to vehicles that are in the roundabout.
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For more information, contact:
Jason Bond
Salem VDOT Office
540-387-5250
Roanoke County Launches New Digital Public Radio System
ROANOKE COUNTY, VA (Nov 4, 2009) - On November 4, 2009, Roanoke County flipped the switch on it's new 800MHZ digital public safety radio system. The new system replaces a 20 year old analog and obsolete system. New digital technology enhances the audio of the system and allows public safety officers to receive calls in places they otherwise would not, such as inside large buildings. The system also offers the capability to securely encrypt public safety communications if needed.
For more information, see our page devoted to the Emergency Radio System Upgrade
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For more information, contact:
Bill Hunter
Assistant Director for Communications
County of Roanoke, Virginia
(540) 777-8552
(540) 777-9772 (FAX)
bhunter@roanokecountyva.gov
Roanoke County Dedicates New Fleet Service Facility
ROANOKE COUNTY, VA (Oct 29, 2009) – Roanoke County dedicated a new Fleet Service Center today as part of a cooperative agreement with the Western Virginia Water Authority (“Authority”). The new, 23,600-square foot facility, located at 5235 Hollins Road in North Roanoke County, is situated on a nine-acre site and features eight heavy equipment truck bays, six bays for cars and light-duty trucks, a parts room, tire storage, bulk fluids, administrative offices, and customer waiting area.
Roanoke County has been servicing the 
Authority’s vehicles since the Authority’s inception in 2004. Combined, the two entities have over 800 vehicles. The growing fleet – which also includes vehicles from other agencies, such as the Western Virginia Regional Jail, the Western Virginia EMS Council, Roanoke Valley Television, and the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority – has stretched the current facility in downtown Salem to its limit and available space is well below industry standards for a fleet of the size serviced by the County. The new Fleet Service Center replaces the existing garage, which has only four bays and required some work to be performed in the parking lot or sent to outside vendors costing time and money.
This $7.7 million, state-of-the-art vehicle service facility will be the County’s first LEED-certified “green building,” with 
sustainable features that include extensive natural lighting, computerized light and HVAC control, water efficient landscaping, a white roof for reduced heat island effect, and recycled content building materials, to name a few. All of the vehicle waste oil will be recycled on site for use in heating the building, dramatically reducing utility costs. The project is being funded through a combination of upfront capital contributions from the County and the Water Authority; bonds will be repaid through fees charged to user departments.
In addition to servicing highly visible vehicles, such as Roanoke County’s Fire and Rescue ambulances and ladder trucks, police cruisers, and trash trucks, the Service Center will also make sure that the other vehicles that serve Roanoke County citizens – such as Water Authority trucks, hybrids used by Community Development and the Authority, 
and vans that take library books from branch to branch – are kept in good working order.
Given the spacious, modern work bays and plentiful parking on site, it is expected that the new facility will meet the needs of Roanoke County and the Water Authority for the next 20 years.
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News Release: County and Water Authority Dedicate New Fleet Service Center
For more information, contact:
Teresa Hamilton Hall
Public Information Director
County of Roanoke
540-772-2010
thall@RoanokeCountyVA.gov
Sarah R. Baumgardner
Environmental Communications Coordinator
Western Virginia Water Authority
540-853-5707
sarah.baumgardner@westernvawater.org
Roanoke County Breaks Ground on New South County Library
The Modern-Day Facility to Include Community Meeting Space & Walking Trails
ROANOKE COUNTY, VA (Oct 27, 2009) – Roanoke County broke ground today for what will become the County’s first new full-service library branch in more than 30 years. The South County Library will include many modern-day library features as well as community meeting space. Educational walking trails will be incorporated into the site’s natural wetlands.
The new library will be built on Merriman Road across from Penn Forest Elementary School and will replace the 419/Headquarters Library. The current Headquarters facility was built 40 years ago and is the busiest of the County’s six library branches. Each year nearly 400,000 people visit the 
Headquarters Library, making it a challenge on a typical day to even find a parking space. In addition to being congested, the library is heavily worn and has an overburdened, outdated infrastructure.
Planning for a new Headquarters Library began in 2005 after a comprehensive assessment of future needs indicated that a modern library should be built for service in this century. The $9 million library will be comprised of 54,000 square feet, including 5,000 square feet for an auditorium/community meeting space.
The first floor of South Country Library will prominently display popular books, DVDs, and other materials while featuring a copy center and self-checkout stations for patrons. The design also includes a children's area and story-time room, computer stations for adults and children, meeting rooms, and a variety of comfortable seating options. A bookstore and coffee shop operated by The Friends of the Library will also be located on the first floor. Patrons will be able to pick up materials or return them using the drive-through lane.
The second floor will feature the adult collection, an additional copy center, reference materials and research desk, a computer instructional lab, seating areas with a view overlooking the wetlands, a quiet study room, and a Young Adult room with teen reading material, a projection screen, computers, and two diner-style booths for group study. In addition, the second floor design includes a board and conference room area.
While the new facility will be a large, extremely busy public building, its location adjacent to federally protected wetlands comes with responsibilities. For this reason, the facility has been carefully planned to avoid impacting the surrounding environment. In fact, construction of the library includes work to protect and reclaim the onsite wetlands. A raised walking trail will also be constructed through the wetlands and will link the site to nearby parks and athletic fields. It will feature informational signs describing the ecosystem and serve as an outdoor educational exhibit.
In addition to its interesting site and design, the South County Library …
- is designed specifically for the site, reducing impact on the wetland area and optimizing building orientation for daylighting and views
- incorporates many sustainable features, including an open space design, energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems, solar glazed windows, recycled materials and building components
- has created an opportunity to create an educational partnership between the schools, wetlands, walking trails and the library
- will be a warm and welcoming community center
- is a modern building designed to meet the needs of all citizens for many years to come
Entrance to the library will be through a roundabout to be constructed at the intersection of Meadowlark Road and Merriman Road. Construction on the roundabout is tentatively scheduled for completion on or before September 2010 and will be scheduled to minimize traffic disruptions on Meadowlark and Merriman roads. The new library is expected to open on or before June 2011.
The Roanoke County Library system is comprised of six library branches and has 56 full- and part-time employees. It is the busiest library system in Virginia west of Richmond with visitors borrowing more one million items from the system each year.
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For more artist renderings, see the South County Library page.
News Release: South County Library Groundbreaking
For more information, contact:
Teresa Hamilton Hall, Director
Office of Public Information
(540) 772-2010
thall@roanokecountyva.gov
Roanoke County Dedicates North County Fire & Rescue Station
New Station to Meet Increasing Emergency Call Volume
ROANOKE COUNTY, VA (Oct. 22, 2009) - Roanoke County dedicated its newest fire and rescue station on Thursday, one of six major capital projects the County has been working on for the past 18 months. Construction of the new station near the intersection of Hershberger and Plantation roads began in July 2008. The $4.2 million dollar project was completed on time and on budget.
The North County Fire and Rescue Station, along with 
the existing Hollins Station, will serve North County along the Peters Creek Road corridor to Williamson Road and out to Hollins along Plantation Road. The district includes numerous nursing homes, five public schools, a university and thousands of homes and businesses. The new station will respond to traffic accidents on Interstates 81 and 5-81 and serve as a back-up to the Roanoke Regional Airport.
The new station will also alleviate pressure on the Hollins Station and help improve response times throughout the County's fire and rescue system.
Growth in North County, coupled with an aging population and increased commercial development, created more calls than the Hollins Station could answer. If Hollins units were unavailable, calls were routed to the next closest available station. In many cases this meant calls were answered by units from Masons Cove, Read Mountain, the Town of Vinton or Roanoke City. More than 900 fire and rescue calls in 2006 were turned over to other fire and rescue stations. The new station will help keep units from other districts in their home communities.
The North County Fire and Rescue Station will accommodate a total of 18 firefighter/emergency medical technicians working in 
shifts. The station is just over 16,000 square feet and includes living and office space for three round-the-clock shifts, three drive-through bays for emergency vehicles, training and exercise rooms and a back-up emergency generator.
The new station was also designed with many environmentally friendly and energy efficient features, including:
- Landscaping with native plants that require little or no watering,
- White concrete outdoor parking and turn-out areas that limit heat emissions from paving materials,
- Building materials and products that use post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content, including the carpet tiles,
- Light switches and some motion sensors in each room to allow individual users to control indoor lighting levels,
- Zoned heating and cooling controls that allow some parts of the station to be cut-back when not in use,
- Daylight lighting in 75% of the building that can reduce the use of indoor electric lighting.
The station's exterior, including the stone facade and red metal roof, were designed to complement the nearby historic Samuel Harshbarger House that is featured on the National Registry of Historic Places.
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For more information contact:
Jennifer Conley Sexton, Volunteer & Marketing Coordinator
(540) 777-8706 of (540) 777-8701
jsexton@roanokecountyva.gov
Two Roanoke County Employees Promoted
ROANOKE COUNTY, VA (Oct 20, 2009) – Roanoke County recently promoted two outstanding employees to the position of Assistant Director within the Department of Communications and Information Technology.
Diana Wilson has been named Assistant Director for Information Technology (IT). Wilson has over 30 years of knowledge and expertise that cross all IT service areas. In her new position, she will oversee the daily operations of areas that include project management, applications development, operations, GIS, Web, DBA, technical support, network services and information security.
Roanoke County has also named Bill Hunter to the position of Assistant Director for Communications. Hunter will oversee the daily operations of the Emergency Communications Center and the Radio Communications Shop. Bill served more than 20 years in the Air Force including Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He has worked with the Secret Service on the Atlanta Olympics and several Presidential Campaigns.
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News Release: Roanoke County Employee Promotions
For more information, contact:
Teresa Hamilton Hall, Director
Office of Public Information
(540) 772-2010
thall@roanokecountyva.gov
McVitty Road to be Closed to Through Traffic Oct 26-30
Crews will be working 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday
SALEM – Beginning Monday, Oct. 26, a portion of Route 1662 (McVitty Road) in southwest Roanoke County will be closed to through traffic from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily.
Route 1662 (McVitty Road) will be closed from Route 1663 (Old Cave Spring Road) to Route 702 (Castle Rock Road). Work is expected to be completed by 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes around the closure.
The daily road closure is necessary so crews can perform geotechnical work in this area.
News Release: VDOT: McVitty Road Closure Oct 26-30
CONTACT: Heidi Underwood
540-387-5493 (office)
540-598-8405 (cell)
Heidi.Underwood@VDOT.Virginia.Gov
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