INTERSTATE 81
I-81 IRONTO REST AREA CLOSED FOR PAVING – Weather
permitting, between Monday, July 28 and Friday, August 1, paving is scheduled at the Ironto
Rest Area located on northbound I-81 at mile marker 128 in Montgomery County. This paving
will require the rest area to be closed temporarily and restrict truck parking at times. I-81
travelers should plan accordingly and consider alternative safety rest areas and truck parking.
The paving schedule is weather dependent and may change. Drivers should pay attention to
electronic messages boards to get the latest information.
The current schedule is as follows:
The rest area will be closed on Monday, July 28, from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. and on Friday,
August 1 from 1 p.m. until 8 p.m. Truck parking will not be available between 6 a.m. and 8
p.m. on Tuesday, July 29 and on Wednesday, July 30. On Thursday, July 31, only part of the
rest area’s truck parking area will be available between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m.
INTERSTATE 81 BRIDGE MAINTENANCE IN PULASKI
COUNTY – Bridge maintenance will require the on-ramps to Route 100 off I-81, northbound
and southbound, to be closed from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following morning, Sunday through
Friday mornings. Drivers should watch message boards for the most up to date information as
times and days may vary.
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:
• 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.
- RAMP CLOSURES: Ramp closure of exit 140 on and off ramps onto southbound I-81 in
Salem scheduled to be closed on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. the
following morning, weather permitting.
• FLAGGING OPERATIONS: Flagging operations possible on Route 635 and Route 619.
• UNEVEN PAVEMENT: Drivers may experience some uneven pavement and/or rough
surface throughout the project.
• TRAFFIC SHIFTS: Drivers may experience periodic lane closures, narrow ramps or quick
merges into traffic onto Thompson Memorial Drive from the southbound or northbound exit
ramps of exit 140 off of I-81. Work zone located at bottom of the ramp for work on the I-81
bridge at the underpass.
• 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.
• 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.
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 WIDENING FROM MILE MARKER 143 TO 151 – The I-81
widening project is underway with survey and preparation work. Shoulder strengthening work
will require northbound and southbound lane closures during nighttime hours. Barrier wall
installation expected in late summer or fall. The expected completion for this project is summer
2031.
- WORK ZONE SPEED: Drivers should adhere to posted 60 mph speed limits in the
work zone and allow space when following a vehicle. Speed reminders are posted for
drivers.
• Belle Haven Road – Drivers may see periodic daytime flagging operations in place. - LANE CLOSURES – Periodic right and left lane closures in place during nighttime
hours 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., on northbound and southbound I-81
• RAMPS – Ramps on I-81, northbound and southbound, may be narrowed at exit 150. 146
and 143.
• DETOU13 SIGNS: While detour signs are in place on I-81 and routes around the project
such as Route 11 and Plantation Road, these do not designate a permanent or scheduled
detour. The signed detour route is suitable for all traffic during incidents including
tractor-trailers and other large vehicles. These signs are used for traffic incident
detours only.
I-81 NB & SB DECK OVERLAY AT PEAK CREEK MILE
MARKER 95.7 – Repair work is underway on the northbound and southbound bridges on I-81
over Peak Creek near mile marker 95.7. This repair work will require nighttime single lane
closures for the duration of the project. Lane closures may occur nightly from Sunday night
through Friday mornings between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. For the deck overlay process,
lane closures may be in place between Sunday nights through Friday mornings. For the
southbound lanes these will occur between the hours of 7pm and 10am, and for the northbound
lanes between the hours of 6pm through 9am. Details on these closures will be listed below on a
weekly basis. Estimated completion is Summer 2025.
• Alternating nighttime northbound and southbound left and right lane closures may or may
not be in place from mile marker 96 to 94 during the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. while
other work on the project continues.
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. 7low 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.
- LANE CLOSURES: Nighttime right and left lane closures may be in place on I-81
northbound or southbound between mile marker 106 and 104 from 8 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: 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 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 work zone areas. Delays are possible.
INTERSTATE 581
I-581 PATCHING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, beginning
August 18, crews will perform paving and patching operations. Lane closures will be in place
northbound and southbound, Sunday through Thursday, during nighttime hours, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
INTERSTATE 77 (CARROLL COUNTY)
I-77 PAVING & PATCHING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting,
crews will perform paving and patching operations on Interstate I-77. Right, left and center lane
closures will be in place northbound and southbound, Monday through Friday, during nighttime
hours, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect
possible delays.
I-77 BRIDGE DECK REPAIRS – Weather permitting, crews will
perform paving operations on Interstate 77. Right and left lane closures will be in place
northbound and southbound during nighttime hours, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning.
Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
• Bridge deck overlays on I-77 from 8.78 miles north of the North Carolina line to 6.24
miles south of the intersection with Route 58 are underway. Lane closures will be in
place underneath the bridge on Route 148. Expected completion date is scheduled for
Fall 2025.
ROANOKE CITY
ORANGE AVENUE OFF RAMP SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS –
Drivers can expect shoulder closures, narrow ramps and lane closures eastbound and westbound on Route 460 (Orange Avenue) from Burrell Street northwest and Gainsboro Road northwest to the intersection of Williamson Road northeast and on the off ramp from I-581. Shoulder
