Emergency bridge work to close Interstate 81 northbound lane at Interstate 64 interchange

The Virginia Department of Transportation will close the northbound right lane of Interstate 81 in the vicinity of mile marker 221. The closure will begin around noon today, March 12, and may last until early afternoon tomorrow, March 13.

This location is near the Interstate 64 interchange with Interstate 81, which is between exit 220 at Route 262 and exit 222 at Route 250 in the Staunton region of Augusta County.

Emergency repairs will be done to a concrete slab that is part of the approach to the I-81 bridge over I-64.  The road subgrade has deteriorated causing the slab to crack and fail.  Crews will be on-site around noon to begin setting up the work zone and then begin repairs.  Because concrete is needed in the repairs, and this substance is weather dependent, it may take into the morning or early afternoon hours of March 13 before the right lane can reopen.

Motorists should be aware of the following:

• Expect major delays in this area.
• Traffic can exit I-81 at exit 220 and take the bypass, Route 262, around Staunton and rejoin I-81 at exit 225. This is not an established detour, but an alternate motorists can use.
• If traffic backs up to exit 217, traffic can exit onto Route 11 north, to the Route 262 westbound ramp and then rejoin I-81 at exit 225.

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 at www.VirginiaDOT.org.

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