Augusta County: Interstate 81 overnight ramp closures near Staunton March 24-April 1

VDOT is in the final stages of improving three Interstate 81 interchanges in Augusta County near Staunton. The project extends seven ramp acceleration and deceleration lanes at I-81 exits 220, 221 and 222.

Final paving work requires overnight closures of the ramps as follows:

Sunday and Monday, March 24-25

• The ramp connecting westbound Interstate 64 with southbound I-81 at Exit 221 is scheduled to be closed both nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Westbound I-64 drivers who need to reach southbound I-81 will detour onto northbound I-81 at exit 87, travel a half-mile north to exit 222 (Route 250/Staunton) and follow westbound Route 250 to southbound I-81. This detour also serves motorists who need to remain on westbound I-64 to Lexington, Covington/Clifton Forge and areas further west.

Tuesday, March 26

• The off-ramp from southbound I-81 to Route 262 at exit 220 is scheduled to be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Southbound I-81 drivers who need to reach Route 262 will continue south on I-81 to exit 217 (Mint Spring/Stuarts Draft). At the end of the off-ramp, turn left onto Route 654 (White Hill Road) and then turn left again onto the northbound I-81 on-ramp. Use I-81 northbound exit 220 to reach Route 262.

Wednesday and Thursday, March 27-28

• The off-ramp from northbound I-81 to Route 262 at exit 220 is scheduled to be closed both nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Northbound I-81 drivers who need to reach Route 262 will detour at exit 217 (Mint Spring/Stuarts Draft). At the end of the off-ramp, turn left onto Route 654 (White Hill Road), turn right onto Route 11 (Lee-Jackson Highway) and continue north for about three miles to Route 262.

Sunday and Monday, March 31 – April 1:

• The on-ramp from Route 250 (Jefferson Highway) to I-81 northbound at exit 222 is scheduled to be closed both nights from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Route 250 drivers who need to reach northbound I-81 will take southbound I-81 to exit 220 at Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway). At exit 220 take the off-ramp to Route 262 north. Route 262 is a half-loop bypass around Staunton. On Route 262 travel for about 12 miles, and enter northbound I-81 at exit 225.

Signs and variable message boards will guide motorists on the above detours.

The I-81 interchange improvement project extends the ramp acceleration and deceleration lanes for northbound and southbound drivers at exit 220 (Route 262); the southbound ramp acceleration lane at exit 221 (from westbound I-64); the northbound ramp acceleration lane and southbound ramp deceleration lane at exit 222 (Route 250). These upgrades will improve safety and traffic flow by giving drivers more room to reach interstate speed, or slow down as they exit the interstate. This is a SMART SCALE project.

On May 23, 2018, VDOT awarded a $3.8 million contract to Kickin’ Asphalt Paving and Excavating LLC of Strasburg, Virginia. The contract completion date is July 12, 2019. All work is weather permitting.

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.