U.S. Route 501 Regional Coalition
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501 Map Data

Corridor View

 

Regional View

Regional View

 

Accident Summary

Accident Summary

For every three (3) miles along route 501 there is an average of:

- 6.3 accidents
- 3.9 injuries


Details 
(January 1, 2003 - December 31, 2003)

From/To 1
I-81/
Lynchburg
2
Lynchburg/
Rustburg
3
Rustburg/
Volens
4
Volens/
N.C. border
miles 18 21 30 31
accidents 21 104 43 45
injuries 7 39 50 36
fatalities 0 2 3 2

Source:  Virginia Department of Transportation

 

Road Priorities List

 
  • Truck turnout lanes on Rt. 501 at Eagle Eyrie; (Bedford)

  • Reduce vertical curves on Rt. 501 approximately .5 mile north of the Village of Gladys to create an additional safe passing zone; (Campbell)

  • Intersection of Rt. 501, Rt. 40 and Rt. 632, reduce speed limit to 45mph, remove traffic island at Rt. 632 and install flashing alert signals;  (Halifax)

  • Bridge work on Candlers Mountain Road. (Lynchburg)

  • Widen shoulders and add new guard rails along the creek on Rt. 501 between Rt. 752 and Rt. 672; (Bedford)

  • Intersection of Rt. 501 and Rt. 633 (Phelps Creek road) provide southbound left turn lane; (Campbell)

  • Install passing lane on Rt. 501 at Mitchell’s Stretch and Childrey Creek; (Halifax)

  • Improvements to intersection of 501 and lakeside Drive.  (Lynchburg)

  • Install left turn Lane on Rt. 501 at the Rt. 122 intersection; (Bedford)

  • Intersection of Rt. 501 and Rt. 633 (Epsons Road) provide northbound left turn lane; (Campbell)

  • Intersection of Rt. 501 and Rt. 628; construct right and left turn lanes (Halifax)

  • Intersection of Rt. 501 and Rt. 933 (Sanfacon Road) provide northbound left turn lane; (Campbell)

  • Intersection of Rt. 501 and Rt. 642; construct right and left turn lanes; (Halifax)

  • Extend third lane of a three travel lanes in the Village of Rustburg from Depot Road south to the existing three lane improvements to provide a center left turn only lane; (Campbell)

  • Intersection of Rt. 501 and US Rt. 360 in Town of Halifax; install right turn lane and storage lane for southbound traffic; (Halifax)

  • Evaluate intersection of Rt. 501, Rt. 652, Rt. 653 in the Village of Gladys; determine potential solutions for safety concerns; (Campbell)

  • Sydnor Jennings Elementary School (approximately .5 miles south of Volens) construct/enhance southbound right turn/deceleration lane and construct northbound left turn lanes; (Halifax)

  • Intersection of Rt. 501 and Rt. 917 (Rails View Road, northern intersection) install northbound left turn lane and enhance south bound right turn out lane for safety; (Campbell)

 

Work in Progress

1. Safety improvements from Candlers Mountain Road to Boonsboro Road. (Pavement Markers).

2. A center turning lane will be added to US Route 501 for northbound traffic turning left onto Browns Mill Road. (Route 686)

3. Intersection of Route 40 at Four Forks.

4. Improvements along Route 501/460 as part of the new Route 460 Bypass.

5. Safety projects at the intersection of Routes 501 and 24 in Campbell County.

6. Engineering/environmental studies for Brookneal Bypass.

Completed Projects

Completed Projects Map

1. Eight locations between Lynchburg and Big Island. Relocated ditch lines and widened and paved the shoulders.

2. Intersection of US Route 501 and Swinging Bridge Road (Route 605)

3. Intersection of US Route 501 and Lewis Ford Road (Route 643)

4. Intersection of U.S. Route 501 and Route 603 in Volens.

What is the 501 Regional Coalition?

The 501 Coalition is a truly regional group, comprised of representatives from cities, counties, and private industries served by 501. These diverse stakeholders have joined together with one common goal: to make 501 safer.

Much of this aging roadway is sorely unfit to handle the volume of traffic that has emerged in recent years. Along many parts of its hilly, serpentine path, visibility is poor and accidents are all too common.

But through the unified voice of the Coalition, neighboring localities are advocating improvements to 501 that will make travel safer and more convenient for millions of residents and visitors as well as for business and industry.

Clear Goals

Soon after its formation in 1995, the Coalition’s members developed a list of 10 areas along 501 most in need of improvement. The Coalition recently re-evaluated and updated the 1995 list and voted on a new list of priority areas. There are now 18 areas along 501 in need of improvement that are considered top priorities to the 501 Coalition. The group works with legislators and state agencies to encourage the completion of these projects.

The fact that these prioritized projects do not favor one locality over another, plus the fact that the group’s members come from multiple Department of Transportation districts, makes the Coalition an effective model of regional cooperation. (Our regional consensus not only stretches from Interstate 81 at Lexington to the North Carolina border, but crosses the border extending to the Research Triangle.)

Ultimately, the Coalition promotes expanding 501 to four lanes along its entire length, creating a robust route capable of safely supporting the increased traffic generated by the region’s current and future growth.

The U.S. 501 Regional Coalition is truly a regional undertaking, seeking to ensure safe and convenient travel for the more than one million citizens served by this major route. The Coalition stands ready to work with you to “keep Virginia moving” safely and efficiently.

State & local support for improvements to Route 501

Name

Organization

Phone

Arrington, Steve Bedford County Board of Supervisors 540-586-0110 
Austin, Donald VDOT - Appomattox/ Campbell 434-352-7135
Bailey, Pam Blair Marketing 434-846-2375
Barkley, Joe VDOT - Halifax, Residency Administrator 434-476-6342
Byron, Kathy J. VA House of Delegates 434-582-1592
Campbell, Phyllis Brookneal - Mayor 434-376-3124
Christie, Gary Region 2000 Local Government Council 434-845-3491
Thurston, Russell Brookneal Town Manager 434-376-3124
Daniel, Terry “Ted” Town of South Boston 434-575-4200
Davidson, J. Michael Campbell County Economic Development 434-592-9595
Davis, J.T. Halifax County Board of Supervisors 434-376-5480
Newman, Stephen D. VA State Senate 434-385-1065
Fallen, Dolly Fallen Trucking 434-572-9188
Fariss, Matthew C. VA House of Delegates 434-821-5929
Nester, George W. Halifax County Administrator 434-476-3300
Hurt, Robert US House of Representatives 202-225-4711
Guzi, Kathleen Bedford County Administrator 540-586-7601
Ruff, Jr., Frank M. VA State Senate 434-374-5129
Harter, Gerry City of Lynchburg, Traffic Engineer 434-847-1360
Harvey, Paul Campbell County Community Development 434-592-9592
Edmunds, II, James E. VA House of Delegates 434-476-0077
Kennedy, Christine Lynchburg Regional Chamber of Commerce 434-845-5968
Kessler, Jeffrey VDOT - Salem & Lynchburg 434-856-8293
Laurrell, David Campbell County Administrator 434-592-9525
Love, Robbie Halifax County 434-476-3300
Lovelace, Ron Bedford County   540-587-8870
Martin, Dana M.  Commonwealth Trans. Board 540-989-5906
Martin, Susan Bedford Chamber of Commerce 540-586-9401
Miles, Zoe Georgia Pacific 434-299-7333
Blido, Traci Bedford County Economic Development 540-587-5670
Newman, Stephen D. VA State Senate 434-386-1065
Owen, Ray Climate Control 434-572-6986 ext. 240
Payne, L. Kimball City of Lynchburg 434-455-3990
Puckett, J.D. Campbell County Board of Supervisors 434-376-5780
Putney, Lacey E. VA House of Delegates 540-586-0080
Ruff, Jr., Frank M. VA State Senate 434-372-0551
Sutton, Bob VDOT 540-586-7910
Warner, Mark US Senate 202-224-2023
Webb, Jim US Senate 202-224-4024
White, Bob Region 2000 Local Government Council 434-845-5678
White, Kent Commonwealth Trans. Board 434-846-9000

U.S. Route 501 - Regional Coalition Member Localities:

  • Bedford County
  • Town of Brookneal
  • Campbell County
  • Halifax County
  • City of Lynchburg
  • Town of South Boston