Are you heading over the river and through the woods for Christmas? Do you have exciting plans for New Year’s? VDOT will be lifting lane closures where possible during the holiday period to help make your travels easier and road-trip memories more pleasant.
In addition, VDOT offers tools to help you plan your trip. Real-time traffic information can be found at 511virginia.org, and now VDOT is partnering with Waze to improve that travel information.
Through a two-way data share, Waze will provide real-time, anonymous Waze-generated incident and slow-down information to complement VDOT’s 511Virginia traveler information tools. In exchange, 511Virginia will provide Waze with real-time verified construction zones, crash and road closure data. VDOT closure information and incidents will be reflected in the Waze app in real-time.
MOST MAJOR WORK ZONES SUSPENDED DURING HOLIDAY TRAVEL PERIODS
VDOT will suspend most highway work zones and lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia for Christmas travel from noon Friday, Dec. 23, until noon Tuesday, Dec. 27. During the New Year’s holiday, most lane closures and work zones will be lifted from noon Friday, Dec. 30 through noon Tuesday, Jan. 3.
ACCESS 511 ON YOUR COMPUTER OR PHONE
Real-time information about traffic, incidents and congestion on Virginia roads is available at 511Virginia.org. Download the free mobile VDOT 511 app, or call 511 from any phone. To report a road problem or get answers to your transportation questions, call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) around the clock.
NORTHERN VIRGINIA HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (HOV) SCHEDULE AND OTHER INFORMATION:
HOV restrictions on Interstates 66 and 395 will be lifted on Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2. Normal HOV restrictions remain all other times. For more information on northern Virginia HOV schedules, visit www.virginiadot.org/travel/
Direction schedule for the Interstate 95 Express Lanes/I-395 reversible lanes:
- Friday, Dec. 23 – Lanes close northbound at 10 a.m., open to southbound traffic at noon. Lanes remain southbound until midnight, Sunday, Dec. 25.
- Sunday, Dec. 25 − Lanes close southbound at midnight, open to northbound traffic at 2 a.m. and remain northbound until 11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 26.
- Friday, Dec. 30 – Lanes close northbound at 10 a.m., open to southbound traffic at noon. Lanes remain southbound until 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 31.
- Saturday, Dec. 31 − Lanes close southbound at 2 p.m., open to northbound traffic at 4 p.m. and remain northbound until midnight, Sunday, Jan. 1.
- Sunday, Jan. 1 − Lanes close northbound at midnight, open to southbound traffic at 2 a.m. and remain southbound until noon, Monday, Jan. 2.
For information on the 95 and 495 Express Lanes schedules and rules visit www.expresslanes.com. Drivers are reminded that they need an E-ZPass Flex (for HOV-3 to ride toll-free) or an E-ZPass to use the lanes at all times.
HAMPTON ROADS HOV SCHEDULE, TUNNELS AND OTHER INFORMATION:
- I-64/I-264/I-564 HOV diamond lanes – HOV restrictions will be lifted on all HOV diamond lanes on Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2.
- I-64 reversible lanes – Schedule remains the same. HOV restrictions will be lifted on Monday, Dec. 26 and Monday, Jan. 2.
- I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) – Local traffic to Virginia Beach is encouraged to use the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) as an alternative to the HRBT. To Virginia Beach, take I-664 south to the MMMBT. Then take the Portsmouth/Norfolk exit (exit 15A) to I-264 east to Virginia Beach.
- Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) – Tune to 1680 AM to stay informed on Hampton Roads traffic, travel conditions and construction information.
TWO I-95 REST AREAS AT LADYSMITH, SKIPPERS OPEN WITH TEMPORARY FACILITIES
Two rest areas, one in Caroline County on northbound I-95 at Ladysmith and another on northbound I-95 in Greensville County at Skippers, were demolished in April and are being reconstructed. While new rest areas are being built, temporary restroom facilities are available at these sites.
WORK ZONES AND OTHER TRAFFIC ALERTS
While VDOT will lift most lane closures for holiday travel, motorists may encounter permanent work zones or travel delays in the following locations:
Accomack County
Route 609 – Road closed for widening project in the Town of Onley. Follow detour.
Route 709 – Road closed for widening project. Follow detour.
US 13 – Improving drainage. Traffic reduced to single-lane in both directions.
Albemarle County
Route 29 – Widening roadway. Narrowed lanes and shoulder closures between Route 643 (Polo Grounds Road) and Route 1719 (Towncenter Drive). Speed limit in work zone reduced to 40 mph. More information: www.
Amherst County
Route 130 – Replacing bridge over Pedlar River. Follow posted detour.
U.S. 501 – Replacing bridge at Route 130 intersection over James River. Two-way traffic on new bridge.
Brunswick County
I-85 – Repairing bridge over railroad at mile marker 28. Traffic limited to one lane both directions. Ramp from I-85 north to Route 1 closed. Ramp from Route 1 south to I-85 south closed. Follow posted detour.
Botetourt County
I-81 – Improving exit 150 interchange. Route 11 is closed at the interchange, and a detour is in place for access to Route 11, Route 220 Alternate and Route 220. From I-81: traffic accessing Route 220 Alternate or Route 11 will use exit 150 A. Only traffic accessing Route 220 northbound toward Fincastle will use exit 150 B. Signs and message boards in place.
Buckingham County
Route 20 – Replacing bridge over Slate River. Speed limit in work zone reduced to 45 mph.
Campbell County
Route 29 – Repairing bridge over Otter River. Traffic restricted to one lane; width restriction in place.
Fauquier County
Route 15/17/29 – Access to Route 17 southbound from the Route 687 (Opal Road) intersection is closed. Through traffic will stay right to use the loop ramp, located south of the intersection, to access Route 17 southbound. Local access to commercial and residential entrances has been maintained.
Route 245 – Replacing bridge over Broad Run. Traffic restricted to one lane controlled by temporary signals.
Frederick County
I-81 – Reconstructing interchange at exit 310. Speed limit through work zone reduced to 60 mph.
Greensville County
U.S. 301 – Replacing southbound bridge over rail tracks north of Emporia. Traffic detoured to I-95.
Isle of Wight County
U.S. 58 – Replacing bridge over rail tracks and Route 632. Follow detour.
Route 621 – Replacing bridge over Passenger Swamp. Road closed. Follow detour.
Lynchburg
Greenview Drive – Widening road. Changes in traffic pattern in place.
Route 29/U.S. 460 – Constructing safety improvements from Concord Turnpike to Candlers Mountain Road in both directions. Speed limit in work zone reduced to 45 mph.
U.S. 501 – Route 29 – Lane closures may be in place from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m.Sunday excluding holiday weekends, weather permitting.
Odd Fellows Interchange and Odd Fellows Rd. – Temporary lane closures likely on U.S. 460 and Odd Fellows Rd. Speed reduced to 45 mph.
U.S. 460 – Constructing overpass across U.S. 460 at Liberty University. Concrete barriers in place.
Madison County
Route 230 – Replacing bridge over Conway River. Traffic restricted to one lane controlled by temporary signals.
Newport News
I-64 – Widening interstate. Trucks traveling westbound restricted to right lane between Jefferson Avenue (exit 255) and Yorktown Road (exit 247).
Pittsylvania County
Route 29 – Replacing bridge over railroad tracks. Route 29/803 connection temporarily relocated. Southbound detour in place.
Rockbridge County
I-64 – Rehabilitating Maury River bridges. Westbound traffic will detour across median to eastbound lanes between mile markers 53.3 and 55.3. Traffic both directions restricted to single lane and will use eastbound bridge during work on westbound bridge. Speed limit through work zone reduced to 55 mph.
Southampton County
Route 35 – Replacing bridge in Boykins. Traffic reduced to single lane in both directions. Temporary signal in place.
U.S. 58 Business – Reconstructing roadway in Courtland. Single lane closures in both directions.
U.S. 58 – Repairing roadway. Right lane closure eastbound.
Stafford County
I-95 – Extending the 95 Express Lanes south of exit 143 (Route 610/Garrisonville). All travel lanes open; concrete barriers in place along the shoulder northbound and southbound in work zone.
Sussex County
Route 301 – Replacing bridge over Nottoway River. Detour in place.
Washington County
I-81 – Reconstructing interchange at exit 14. Lanes shifted due to bridge reconstruction at exit. Speed limit through work zone reduced to 60 mph.
I-81 – Reconstructing two interstate bridges over Halls Bottom Road near exit 10. Speed limit through work zone reduced to 60 mph.
Waynesboro
Route 340 – Replacing bridge over South River. Road closed between Constitution Park and East Avenue. Through traffic will use Broad Street (Route 250) as detour.
Wythe County
I-77/I-81 overlap – High traffic volumes could slow or stop vehicles through this eight-mile stretch. Be alert for delays on northbound I-77 at the I-81 merge.
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