Windy Gap Mountain to the north has a 2,024-foot summit, and Murray Knob to the south rises 2,286 feet. The elevation of U.S. 220 in the valley below is about 1,100 feet. The connector would solve the problem of crashes at the Crowell Gap Road intersection by moving it north to Yellow Mountain Road. No decisions have been made about the connector's number of lanes or whether it would use an interchange to join U.S. 220 instead of a grade-level intersection, VDOT engineer Robert Cary said. Candidates take I-73 en route to November Interstate 73 has overlaid itself on the road map of this fall's election campaign, with several Democrats lining up against its proposed route through Southeast Roanoke and Roanoke County.
Interstate opponents say historical sites and environmental issues are their best means of defense.
Henry County residents somehow got I-73 rerouted. The endangered fish, farm land and forests are concerns that may affect the federal approval of I-73. The new plan through Henry County will also cost just a little less to build. It won't be an interstate in West Virginia. In Virginia, the section from Bluefield to Roanoke is on the back burner.