Traffic Plans for Rt. 460 Topic Of Public Information Meeting

     Buchanan County and Town of Grundy residents had an opportunity to learn more last Wednesday abou the impact to traffic as the Rt. 460 relocation project gets underway downtown.
      Representatives of the Virginia Department of Transportation; its contractor, Bizzack Inc.; the town; and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were on hand to answer questions about the road project.
     The bottom line?
      According to Bizzack's Eric Patrick, motorists may expect delays of up to 15 minutes in the downtown area as the demolition of buildings and construction begin.
     At times, traffic may be impacted for longer periods of time, when multi-story buildings are being torn down.
     The contractor will work from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. five days a week. Efforts will be made to avoid school bus traffic times for the next few weeks while school is in August. Additionally, emergency vehicles will be moved through traffic zones as quickly as possible when emergencies occur.
     Patrick explained the first order of business will be to get the asbestos out of the buildings prior to demolition, a process that was expected to begin Monday.

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Carrico Wins GOP Nomination

by JoBeth Wampler
Staff Reporter
        Delegate Bill Carrico accepted the Republican nomination for Virginia's Ninth District seat to the U.S. House of Representatives Saturday.
        Carrico, 44, was the only candidate nominated at the Ninth District Republican Convention, which was held at George Wythe High School on May 13. The nomination officially kicked off his Congressional campaign, which boasted appearances by Senator George Allen and Attorney General Bob McDonnell.
        "This is a new level in my life," he said. "Even to get on the ballot and be considered for Congress is a great honor to me."
        A citizen of Smyth County and retired state trooper, he said his knowledge of Buchanan County comes through his wife and Grundy native, Paula Denise Sweet. Now the father of two children, Charles William, Jr. ("Willie"), 16, and Emily Rianna, 6, he said he has an honest appreciation for and understanding of family values.

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