23-05-2025
VDOT reopens Route 58 in Damascus; Gov. Youngkin in attendance
DAMASCUS, Va. (WJHL) – Hurricane recovery efforts in Virginia are ahead of schedule as Route 58 in Damascus reopened Thursday.
During Hurricane Helene, 1.5 miles of Route 58 were washed away, leaving a gaping hole in the road. Many people had to take significant detours when traveling to and from Damascus.
The construction project was originally planned to be completed in October but was finished five months early.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin was in attendance for the ribbon-cutting celebration of the road's completion. He said he was glad to see the road reopen early.
'It required innovation and it required some really on-the-ground leadership, and all of it came together at one time,' Youngkin said.
Michelle Earl, communication manager for the Bristol District of VDOT, said teams have been working since the storm hit to make the repairs.
'We've been working since Hurricane Helene happened to reestablish access here in Southwest Virginia and 58 was a big component of that for Washington County,' Earl said. 'So, this is a banner day for us to be able to open this roadway. Last year when they signed the contract to do the emergency work, they thought it might take a year and that was ambitious. So, to be opening it five months early is something that we're really proud of.'
Chris Blevins, general manager of construction at W-L Construction and Paving, said he saw what the road looked like after the hurricane.
'They wanted me to sign a one-year contract,' Blevins said. 'I said, no, I'm not going to do that because I'm not sure that it can be done. I mean, it was just devastating and seeing it firsthand.'
'We're just proud to be a partner in this.'
Youngkin also said the early completion of the road will help with other recovery efforts.
With work now complete on Route 58, the next project will be working on the Virginia Creeper Trail. Youngkin says there is no set timeline yet on when that work will start.
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