Update: Thursday, 4:58 p.m. Both southbound lanes of Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County have reopened following this morning’s tractor trailer crash at mile marker 196 near Lexington. The detour at exit 200 (Fairfield) has been lifted.
Motorists should continue to expect significant congestion on southbound I-81 and Route 11 in Rockbridge County and southern Augusta County during the late afternoon and early evening hours.
Update: Thursday, Aug. 2, 12:28 p.m. Southbound Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County is expected to remain closed through the evening commute on Thursday (August 2), due to a tractor trailer crash near mile marker 196 in the Lexington area.
I-81 is closed to southbound traffic at exit 200 (Fairfield). Drivers will detour at exit 200, turn left on Route 710 (Sterrett Road), right on Route 11 (Lee Highway) and rejoin the interstate at exit 195 (Lexington).
Due to heavy traffic volumes, the Virginia Department of Transportation advises motorists to consider the following alternate routes:
- Southbound I-81 exit 213A (Greenville) in Augusta County. Follow Route 11 south and rejoin I-81 at exit 195.
- Southbound I-81 exit 217 (Mint Spring/Stuarts Draft) in Augusta County. Follow Route 654 (White Hill Road) west and then Route 11 south to rejoin I-81 at exit 195.
- Westbound I-64 exit 118A (Lynchburg) to Route 29 south at Lynchburg, then Route 460 west to Roanoke and rejoin I-81 at exit 143.
Northbound I-81 exits 200 and 205 (Raphine/Steeles Tavern) are closed to prevent exiting traffic from backing up onto the ramps. Northbound I-81 drivers who need to access Route 11 in the Rockbridge/Augusta area should use exit 195 or exit 213.
First report: Thursday, Aug. 2, 8:58 a.m. Both southbound lanes of Interstate 81 are closed in Rockbridge County due to a crash involving two tractor trailers near mile marker 196. The crash was reported about 6:30 Thursday morning and is located between exit 200 (Fairfield) and exit 195 (Lexington). The southbound I-81 closure is expected to last several more hours.
Drivers using southbound I-81 will detour at exit 200, turn left on Route 710 (Sterrett Road) and right on Route 11 (Lee Highway). They will rejoin the interstate at exit 195.
Virginia traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at http://www.511Virginia.org.
The VDOT Customer Service Center can assist with reporting road hazards, asking transportation questions, or getting information related to Virginia’s roads. Call 800-FOR- ROAD (800-367-7623) or use its mobile friendly website at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. Agents are available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week.
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 http://www.VirginiaDOT.org.
The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.
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Chris Graham
