Tag: I-64 Exit 21

Karnes Creek and divides

Karnes Creek and divides…a stream and its branches located just 3.7 miles from Clifton Forge, in Alleghany County VA near Low Moor.  Alternate names for this stream include Whooley’s Run, Raleigh Creek and Carne Creek.Karnes Creek scene

“Karnes Creek, on which the present mining camp is located, flows through the Low Moor estate in the Jackson River.  At opening No. 5, Rich Patch, it divides, one branch, with a southwesterly direction, being called Clear Creek, and the other to the east, Raleigh Run, the latter cutting through Rich Patch Mountain.”
—  Feb 1, 1896     The Engineering and Mining Journal  Volume LXI  p.118
by The Scientific Publishing Company, 253 Broadway, New York

Traffic Counts Up on Route 696 (Selma-Low Moor Road)

Traffic counts on Route 696 (Selma-Low Moor Road) north and south of the I-64 Exit 21 interchange in Low Moor VA are increasing according to VDOT.  North of the interstate, Route 696 currently has an average traffic count of 4,900 vehicles per day and that count is expected to increase to 8,000 vehicles per day by 2038.  South of the I-64 Exit 21 interchange, Route 696 has an average traffic count of 2,100 vehicles a day and according to VDOT that count is expected to grow to 3,087 vehicles per day by 2041.

VDOT has completed two projects to address congestion and replace bridges on Route 696 near the I-64 Exit 21 interchange.  The first project involved the intersection of Route 696 and Route 1101 (Winterberrry Avenue) just north of the interchange.  These improvements coincided with the construction of the Love’s travel stop.  The second project replaced existing Karnes Creek bridges on Route 696 and Route 1308 (Garland Road) with a single structure on Route 696.  The existing Route 1308 bridge was removed.  The total cost for both projects exceeded $7 million.

Route 696 (Selma Low-Moor road) is a major collector road serving communities of Selma, Low Moor and Rich Patch, VA.