Weather delays work on Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County

Rain and expected low temperatures have forced schedule changes over the next two weeks at the Interstate 81 truck climbing lane project in rockbridge county.

An overnight closure of the northbound right and center lanes is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16 through the morning of Thursday, April 17. This closure is for bridge work, and will run from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. between mile markers 199 and 201.

Northbound milling and paving operations have been postponed to next week. Overnight right and center lane closures are scheduled between mile markers 195 and 201 northbound on Monday, April 21 through the morning of Friday, April 25. These nightly closures run from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

In addition, all northbound lanes of I-81 will be closed for daytime bridge work on Saturday, April 26 from mile marker 195 to 200. All northbound traffic will be detoured off the interstate at exit 195 (Timber Ridge area) and onto Route 11 north. Detoured traffic will follow signs to Route 710 (Sterrett Road), and back onto I-81 at exit 200.

All work is weather permitting.

The I-81 truck climbing lane project valued at $74.2 million was awarded by Commonwealth Transportation Board on Feb. 5, 2009 to W. C. English Inc. of Lynchburg. The work zone is along the northbound lanes from mile marker 195.6 to 202.5, which is just north of Lexington. The project includes adding a third lane, allowing the two far right lanes for trucks with all three lanes open to non-tractor trailer vehicles. Also included in the project is bridge reconstruction at Route 716, Route 712 and Route 710, plus left and right shoulder work, guardrail work and drainage work.

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 andYouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located atwww.VirginiaDOT.org.