The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $16.6-million contract to Haymes Bros. Inc. of Chatham, VA, in March 1998 to build a 4.5-mi. (7.2 km) bypass around South Hill near the I-85 interchange. The Route 58, South Hill Bypass project, located in Mecklenburg County, VA, has been under construction since April 1998 and is nearing completion.

The four-lane divided highway begins at Route 1/Route 58, .8 mi. (1.28 km) south of South Hill and extends east of the Route 58/Interstate 85 interchange. The project involves work on three bridges, including a new bridge that has been built on Route 903. The other two bridges have been dismantled, widened and rebuilt. Work on sewer and water pumping stations and the construction of retaining walls also has been completed as part of the contract. Additionally, the intersection at Route 58 business and bypass has been redesigned with new signals.

The bypass, located 12.5 mi. (20 km) from the North Carolina border recently officially opened.

The improvements for the bypass project were funded through the U.S. Route 58 Corridor Development Program. The program aims to provide a safe, modern and efficient highway system along the southern boundary of Virginia.

Charlie Guerrant, project engineer for VDOT’s South Hill Residency, explained that the bypass has been a partnering job, where the contractor and VDOT representatives meet once a month to discuss issues and try to solve them at the lowest level of management.

“The job has been extremely smooth,” remarked Guerrant.

In addition to the South Hill bypass, VDOT’s South Hill Residency is currently overseeing construction of a $72-million project at the Clarksville bypass 27 mi. (43.2 km) west of South Hill. Also under construction in this division is 16 mi. (25.6 km) Route 58.

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