Speed limit reduction on Interstate 81 near Exit 310 in Frederick County for work zone

The Virginia Department of Transportation is lowering the speed limit to 60 miles an hour on part of Interstate 81 northbound and southbound in Frederick County. This change is in the work zone for the exit 310 interchange modification project. Contractors are installing new speed limit signs this week, and the reduction is scheduled to take effect on the afternoon of Friday, October 23.

The speed limit will be reduced from 70 to 60 miles an hour for northbound drivers between mile marker 308.6 and 311.2, and for southbound drivers between mile marker 311.6 and 309.1.

These changes will remain in effect for the duration of the exit 310 construction project, which is scheduled for completion in May 2018. All work is weather permitting.

The exit 310 project reconstructs the interchange ramps on I-81 at the southern end of Route 37. The new interchange will feature a “spread diamond” configuration that widens and spreads the ramps outward from their current intersections with Route 37. The project extends existing turn lanes and adds dual right- and left-turn lanes to improve traffic flow on the ramps and on Route 37 and Route 11.

The expanded configuration will relocate and connect Route 642 (Tasker Road) and Route 847 (Hillandale Lane) with a segment of Route 37 to be built east of I-81. West of the interstate, this project will modify the ramps at the Route 37 interchange with Route 11.

General Excavation Inc. (GEI) of Warrenton, Va. was awarded a construction contract valued at nearly $25 million. For more information, go to www.virginiadot.org/projects/staunton/i-81_exit_310.asp.

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

Traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at 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 Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton. VDOT can be followed on Facebook, Flickr,Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located at www.VirginiaDOT.org.