Improvements at I-81 / I-66 interchange open to traffic this week

STAUNTON — A $7.1 million project to reduce congestion and enhance safety is expected to fully open to traffic early Friday morning (July 12, 2024) at Interstate 81 exit 300, the interchange with I-66 in Warren County. The two-year construction project has scheduled its final lane closures for tonight and Thursday night (July 10-11).

The I-81 exit 300 project extends the acceleration lane from westbound I-66 to southbound I-81, and replaces the southbound I-81 bridge over Route 840 (Water Plant Road). The junction of the two interstates is a frequently congested area that will benefit from an extended area for vehicles to merge.

Right-lane closures are scheduled for southbound I-81 from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday nights from mile marker 301 to 299. These lane closures allow contractors for the Virginia Department of Transportation to paint final lane markings and remove concrete barriers. All work is weather permitting.

The project has a contract completion date of November 2024, but only shoulder closures are expected during the final phases of construction. The work-zone speed limit on southbound I-81 remains at 55 miles an hour until all work is complete.

In May 2022, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $7,140,300 contract to Triton Construction Inc. of Virginia, located in St. Albans, W.Va. Improvements to I-81 exit 300 are funded by Virginia’s SMART SCALE program. Additional information is found on the VDOT project page.

A project to widen nearly four miles of southbound I-81 in Warren and Shenandoah counties is expected to begin construction in late 2024. The widening project extends from the southern end of the I-81 exit 300 project and continues past exit 296 (Route 55/Strasburg). It is funded by the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program. More information on the I-81 CIP is at Improve81.org.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

Obtain traffic alerts and traveler information by dialing 511 or visiting 511Virginia.org. For other assistance, call the VDOT Customer Service Center, available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR- ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia’s roads.

The VDOT Staunton District is on Facebook and X (Twitter). Follow VDOT statewide accounts on Facebook, Flickr, X and YouTube. The VDOT Web page is at https://vdot.virginia.gov/.