HILLSVILLE (WSLS 10) - Travelers heading to the annual Hillsville Flea Market and Gun Show during Labor Day weekend should be prepared for considerable traffic delays.
The event will be held Friday, September 4 through Monday, September 7. People not attending the flea market and gun show are encouraged to avoid the area altogether.
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Thousands of visitors are expected to converge on a one-mile section of Route 58 Business in Hillsville. As a result, sidewalks will be crowded with pedestrians and bumper-to-bumper traffic will be moving at a crawl throughout the area.
Drivers should use extra caution, watch for police directing traffic and pay attention to electronic message boards in the area.
The Virginia Department of Transportation advises travelers of the following traffic information:
Interstate 77 - exit 14 (Hillsville/Galax).
Those planning to attend the Flea Market and Gun Show are encouraged to take I-77 and use exit 14 (Hillsville/Galax) onto Route 58 Business. Congestion is expected on I-77 in this area and police may be directing traffic at the exit 14 and Route 58 Business interchange to promote safe travel. Traffic will be directed onto Route 714 (Old Galax Pike) to help alleviate congestion. Motorists should watch for stopped vehicles in this area. Westbound Route 58 Business traffic will be reduced to one lane approaching the I-77 interchange from Old Galax Pike.
Route 58 Bypass western interchange with Route 58 Business
Motorists using Route 58 Bypass' western interchange to exit onto Route 58 Business should use extreme caution and watch for heavy traffic congestion. Those not attending the event and traveling westbound on the bypass should use the left lane to avoid exiting vehicles. Drivers are advised not to park on the Route 58 Bypass or on the ramps onto Route 58 Business. "No Parking" signs will be posted around the interchange.
Route 52
Route 52 event traffic can use Route T-780 (Howlett Street) or Route T-1020 (West Grayson Street). Northbound Route 52 traffic will not be permitted to turn left onto westbound Route 58 Business. Southbound Route 52 traffic will not be allowed to make right-on-red turns at the traffic signal onto westbound Route 58 Business.
West Grayson Street
No left turns will be permitted from Route T-1020 (West Grayson Street) onto eastbound Route 58 Business.