HOLIDAY TRAVEL: VDOT will be suspending many highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Friday, Dec. 22 until noon on Tuesday, Dec. 26 and from noon on Friday, Dec. 29 until noon on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
Interstate 81
I-81 & ROUTE 11 BORING – Mountain Valley Pipeline is currently performing boring operations of 329 feet across Route 11 near Apgar Drive. Expected completion in late 2023/early 2024. There are no impacts to traffic.
INTERSTATE 81 LANE WIDENING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT EXIT 137 TO EXIT 141 – The $179 million design-build project to widen both directions of I-81 between mile markers 136.6 and 141.8 from two to three lanes is underway. Work is being performed along a five-mile section of both northbound and southbound Interstate 81 in Roanoke County and the city of Salem. Barrier wall is in place along the shoulders. Two lanes of I-81 traffic in each direction are expected to remain open during the project with periodic lane closures scheduled during nighttime hours or outside of peak travel times as needed. Drivers can expect the following lane closures and upcoming traffic impacts in this area on northbound and southbound I-81:
ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC IMPACTS:
- WORK ZONE SPEED: Drivers should adhere to posted 60 mph speed limits in the work zone and allow space when following a vehicle. Narrow spacing in lanes due to barrier walls, lack of shoulders and lane shifts in various locations, are present.
- TRAFFIC SHIFTS ON WILDWOOD ROAD: Expect a work zone with traffic shifts and narrow width on Wildwood road after exiting I-81 southbound on exit 137 heading towards Salem. Southbound and northbound I-81 exit and entrance ramp narrows are possible at Route 311.
- TRAFFIC SHIFT ON EXIT 140: Drivers may experience a periodic quick merge into traffic onto Thompson Memorial from the southbound exit ramp of exit 140. Work zone located at bottom of the ramp for work on the I-81 bridge at the underpass.
- RAMP CLOSURES: Ramp closures are possible during nighttime hours, 12 a.m., to 5 a.m. Drivers should watch for message boards dates and times the ramp will be closed.
- LANE CLOSURES: Alternating left and right lane and shoulder closures during nighttime hours between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, are possible. Lane widths will be reduced to 11 feet. Nightly lane closures may be in place along the right lane with possible nightly ramp narrows as needed for guardrail and shoulder strengthening.
The project also includes replacing six bridges, widening two bridges, installing approximately 2.6 miles of sound barrier walls along northbound I-81, improving the southbound exit 137 off-ramp intersection at Wildwood Road and adding interchange lighting at exits 137, 140 and 141. Expected completion in early 2026.
I-81 NORTHBOUND AT EXIT 105 NEW RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Traffic on northbound I-81 has been switched onto the newly constructed bridge over the New River at the Montgomery/Pulaski County line. Lane and shoulder closures may be in place near exit 105. Lane closure may be in effect during the week from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Shoulder closures may be in effect at any time during the week. Slow rolls may be performed on I-81 in the north and southbound lanes from mile marker 98 to 109. Speed limit is reduced to 60 miles per hour in the work zone. Shoulder closures will remain in place though the duration of the project. Project completion is estimated for Summer 2024.
LANE CLOSURES: Beginning December 10, nighttime alternating lane closures are possible on I-81 northbound between mile markers 104-106 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning.
ROUTE 605: Alternating lane closures and flagging operations may be present on Route 605, located under the New River Bridge, for paving operations and work overhead on the bridge.
SLOW ROLLS: A slow roll operation may be in place daily, Monday through Friday, between mile marker 101 and 105 northbound and between mile marker 109 and 105 southbound, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Slow rolls may be utilized periodically on both the northbound and southbound lanes from mile marker 98-109 for structural steel deliveries and setting beams.
I-81 PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will be performing paving operations along Interstate 81. Right and left lane closures may be in place along northbound and southbound lanes during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers should watch for moving vehicles and equipment. Expect possible delays.
I-81 BRIDGE DECK REPAIRS – Weather permitting, crews will repair bridge decks on Interstate 81. Between mile markers 170 to 89, right and left lane closures will be in place northbound and southbound during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
Interstate 581
I-581/220 EXPRESSWAY PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will pave, patch and repair pavement on various routes. Lane closures may be in place during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
I-581/220 LANE & RAMP CLOSURES FOR PAVING AND MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS IN ROANOKE COUNTY– Weather permitting, crews will be milling and paving along Interstate 81. Right and left lane closures will be in place along northbound and southbound lanes during nighttime hours. Drivers should expect possible delays.
Roanoke County
I-81 & ROUTE 11 BORING – Mountain Valley Pipeline is currently performing boring operations of 329 feet across Route 11 near Apgar Drive. Expected completion in late 2023/early 2024. There are no impacts to traffic.
NIGHTTIME LANE AND RAMP CLOSURE ON NORTHBOUND INTERSTATE 81 IN WORK ZONE NEAR SALEM – As part of the Interstate 81 widening project in Roanoke County near Salem, a nighttime lane and ramp closure on northbound I-81 are scheduled for Friday, Dec. 8 and Saturday, Dec. 9, so barrier wall can be moved and a new traffic pattern put in place. If the traffic pattern change cannot be made because of weather, the lane and ramp closure will be rescheduled for the following week on Friday, Dec. 15 and Saturday, Dec. 16.
Weather permitting, starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 8, northbound I-81 will be reduced to one lane between mile markers 136 and 138 until 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. In addition, the exit 137 ramp from Wildwood Road onto northbound I-81 will be closed from 10 p.m. on Friday until 5 a.m. on Saturday morning. If work cannot be completed in single night, another lane and ramp closure will be scheduled during similar nighttime hours on Saturday night until the morning of Sunday.
Once the barrier wall has been moved, northbound I-81 traffic will be shifted into a new pattern. Two lanes of traffic will continue to be open in the work zone, but motorists will be traveling on a different portion of roadway on the left side of the road.
INTERSTATE 81 LANE WIDENING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT EXIT 137 TO EXIT 141 – The $179 million design-build project to widen both directions of I-81 between mile markers 136.6 and 141.8 from two to three lanes is underway. Work is being performed along a five-mile section of both northbound and southbound Interstate 81 in Roanoke County and the city of Salem. Barrier wall is in place along the shoulders. Two lanes of I-81 traffic in each direction are expected to remain open during the project with periodic lane closures scheduled during nighttime hours or outside of peak travel times as needed. Drivers can expect the following lane closures and upcoming traffic impacts in this area on northbound and southbound I-81:
ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC IMPACTS:
WORK ZONE SPEED: Drivers should adhere to posted 60 mph speed limits in the work zone and allow space when following a vehicle. Narrow spacing in lanes due to barrier walls, lack of shoulders and lane shifts in various locations, are present.
TRAFFIC SHIFTS ON WILDWOOD ROAD: Expect a work zone with traffic shifts and narrow width on Wildwood road after exiting I-81 southbound on exit 137 heading towards Salem. Southbound and northbound I-81 exit and entrance ramp narrows are possible at Route 311.
TRAFFIC SHIFT ON EXIT 140: Drivers may experience a periodic quick merge into traffic onto Thompson Memorial from the southbound exit ramp of exit 140. Work zone located at bottom of the ramp for work on the I-81 bridge at the underpass.
RAMP CLOSURES: Ramp closures are possible during nighttime hours, 12 a.m., to 5 a.m. Drivers should watch for message boards dates and times the ramp will be closed.
LANE CLOSURES: Alternating left and right lane and shoulder closures during nighttime hours between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, are possible. Lane widths will be reduced to 11 feet. Nightly lane closures may be in place along the right lane with possible nightly ramp narrows as needed for guardrail and shoulder strengthening.
The project also includes replacing six bridges, widening two bridges, installing approximately 2.6 miles of sound barrier walls along northbound I-81, improving the southbound exit 137 off-ramp intersection at Wildwood Road and adding interchange lighting at exits 137, 140 and 141. Expected completion in early 2026.
I-81 NORTHBOUND AT EXIT 105 NEW RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Traffic on northbound I-81 has been switched onto the newly constructed bridge over the New River at the Montgomery/Pulaski County line. Lane and shoulder closures may be in place near exit 105. Lane closure may be in effect during the week from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Shoulder closures may be in effect at any time during the week. Slow rolls may be performed on I-81 in the north and southbound lanes from mile marker 98 to 109. Speed limit is reduced to 60 miles per hour in the work zone. Shoulder closures will remain in place though the duration of the project. Project completion is estimated for Summer 2024.
LANE CLOSURES: Beginning December 10, nighttime alternating lane closures are possible on I-81 northbound between mile markers 104-106 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning.
ROUTE 605: Alternating lane closures and flagging operations may be present on Route 605, located under the New River Bridge, for paving operations and work overhead on the bridge.
SLOW ROLLS: A slow roll operation may be in place daily, Monday through Friday, between mile marker 101 and 105 northbound and between mile marker 109 and 105 southbound, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Slow rolls may be utilized periodically on both the northbound and southbound lanes from mile marker 98-109 for structural steel deliveries and setting beams.
I-81 PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will be performing paving operations along Interstate 81. Right and left lane closures may be in place along northbound and southbound lanes during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers should watch for moving vehicles and equipment. Expect possible delays.
I-81 BRIDGE DECK REPAIRS – Weather permitting, crews will repair bridge decks on Interstate 81. Between mile markers 170 to 89, right and left lane closures will be in place northbound and southbound during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
Botetourt County
NEW TRAFFIC SIGNAL ACTIVATED AT ROUTE 220 AND FIELDSTONE LANE FOR FIELDSTONE DEVELOPMENT – A new signal was activated at the intersection of Route 220 and Fieldstone Lane on Thursday, Dec. 14. The signal is located about 1.3 miles north of Daleville. Flashing warning beacons have been activated on southbound Route 220 before the signal. These lights will only flash to alert approaching drivers when they will need to stop at the red light. Drivers are reminded to use caution due to this new traffic pattern. The new signal was installed by the Fieldstone developer to support traffic using the new apartment complex and future businesses. VDOT will maintain the signal.
PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will pave, patch and repair pavement on various routes. Lane closures may be in place and flaggers may control traffic at times during daylight or nighttime hours. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
