Due to forecasted inclement weather, the Interstate 81 southbound bridge work at mile marker 269 began Sunday morning and will continue until Monday night, May 12.
The work is weather dependent and may extend into Tuesday, May 13.
The Virginia Department of Transportation will perform critical bridge deck rehabilitation work on the southbound bridge over the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, just south of exit 269 near Shenandoah Caverns. The location is north of New Market in Shenandoah County.
Single lane closures will happen continuously for approximately 72 hours from Sunday, May 11 at 10 a.m. into the evening on Monday, May 12. The work will be around-the-clock during nighttime and daytime hours. All work is weather permitting. Trucks with wide loads will not be allowed through the work zone and must find alternate routes.
Virginia State Police will be stationed within the work zone and the Town of New Market will provide law enforcement for traffic management.
Southbound I-81, mile marker 269:
Left lane closed: Sunday, May 11, 10 a.m. to Monday night.
Depending on work progress and temperatures, the lane closure may extend into Tuesday morning.
The bridge concrete work must be completed within a specific temperature range to ensure the quality and durability of the repair. The extended work hours take advantage of optimal temperatures while maximize repair progress prior to holiday and summer vacation traffic.
The work on the bridge right lane was successfully completed prior to noon on Tuesday, May 6, and had began Sunday evening, May 4 with day and night continuous single lane closures. Motorists should expect the lane height of the completed right lane on the bridge deck to differ from the still-to-be completed left lane. As VDOT completes the southbound deck work, crews will survey the bridge deck elevations and precisely control the placement of the concrete surface needed for a smooth and safe ride.
After May 20, work will continue only during the warmer nighttime hours and avoid the need for further daytime lane closures.
Work is anticipated for the northbound bridge with work hours and traffic restrictions to be announced in the coming weeks.
The I-81 northbound and southbound bridges over the North Fork of the Shenandoah River have received repeated temporary deck patching. The patching cannot sustain permanent levels of interstate traffic and is approaching the end of its service life. Funding for permanent deck rehabilitation work became available in spring 2025. Executing the critical bridge deck rehabilitation now will extend the bridge service life, avoiding more extensive and disruptive repairs.
The Staunton District manages approximately 2,400 major structures including bridges and box culverts, and approximately 942.26 lane-miles of I-81.
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Shenandoah County: Single-lane closures on I-81 allow for bridge work
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Rebecca Barnabi
