North Franklin Corridor Improvements

The N. Franklin Street Corridor Improvements Project was designed to improve traffic flow and safety along N. Franklin Street, while also increasing accessibility for pedestrians. The project included ramp modifications to Route 460-Business, traffic signal modifications, access management and pedestrian enhancements, new turn lanes, sidewalks, bike lanes, street lighting and signalized crosswalks.

The project created a new traffic pattern by realigning the intersection of Cambria Street and N. Franklin Street. As shown in the image below, the exit from US-460 Business was removed from the existing N. Franklin Street and Cambria Street intersection. A traffic signal integrated traffic from US-460 Business with traffic exiting the US-460 Bypass prior to reaching the intersection of Cambria Street and N. Franklin Street. The project replaced several entrances onto N. Franklin with a signal-controlled entrance near Patricks Way and Oak Tree Boulevard. This also provided access to a new, Town-maintained service road that aligns with Oak Tree Boulevard and extends between the Food Lion Shopping Center and the Christiansburg Recreation Center. Sidewalks were built along both sides of N. Franklin Street. Sidewalks on the east side of N. Franklin connect to the sidewalks at Independence Boulevard and sidewalks on the west side connect with the Huckleberry Trail.

Project Schedule and Impacts

Construction began in summer 2019 and was completed in late summer 2020.

Project Funding

In total, the project cost about $8.5 million, of which the Town contributed $12,968. The balance was covered by Smart Scale funding ($7.8 million) and VDOT’s Urban Funds program ($634,414).