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Interstate 81 to shut down this weekend for bridge repairs, major delays likely

Crystal Graham
interstate 81 route 11 exit 251 harrisonburg
Photo: © Rosemarie Mosteller/stock.adobe.com

Interstate 81 will close for approximately 15 hours this weekend in Shenandoah County to complete bridge repairs in the Woodstock area.

Major delays are expected on southbound I-81, as the interstate will temporarily close from Saturday, March 21 at 6 p.m., until Sunday, March 22 at 9 a.m., pushing traffic to U.S. Route 11 and other roadways.

The detours will impact roads in Shenandoah, Frederick, Warren and Page counties.

Contractors for the Virginia Department of Transportation will be repairing the Route 604 bridge over I-81 near mile marker 285.

In September, a dump truck with a raised bed struck the bridge causing extensive damage to a structural beam. During the closure, crews will cut through the bridge deck and railing, remove the damaged beam and place the new beam.

Detours for Interstate 81


  • I-81 southbound traffic will detour at exit 291 (Toms Brook) and go east on Route 651 (Mount Olive Road), south on Route 11 (Old Valley Pike) for about eight miles, and then west on Route 42 (Reservoir Road) back to I-81 at Exit 283 (Woodstock).
  • The I-81 northbound exit 291 off-ramp to Route 651 (Mount Olive Road) will be closed.
  • In the town of Woodstock, the westbound Route 42 left lane from Route 11 (South Main Street) to Ox Road will be closed. The left turn lane from northbound Route 11 onto Route 42 will also be closed.

In February, Route 604 was closed to traffic between Summit Avenue and Route 676. The closure is expected to last through April 30.


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Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, Crystal Graham has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]