Roanoke contractor awarded $61.4M to build truck-climbing lanes on I-81 near Weyers Cave

The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) awarded a $61.4 million contract to Branch Civil Inc. of Roanoke to build truck-climbing lanes along Interstate 81 in Augusta and Rockingham counties near Weyers Cave.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2025. The project is part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP) to unlock I-81 by enhancing safety and reliability, reducing congestion and supporting economic growth.

Northbound and southbound truck-climbing lanes will be constructed between mile marker 234.1 in Augusta County and mile marker 237.9 in Rockingham County. To minimize impacts, construction will take place primarily to the inside (toward the median) and within existing right-of-way. The additional lanes will allow slower-moving commercial vehicles to move to the right, reducing conflicts with motorists in the primary travel lanes.

“The I-81 corridor has some steep grades that make it a challenge for commercial trucks to maintain interstate speed,” Dave Covington, I-81 Program Delivery Director for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), said. “Truck-climbing lanes in these areas help ease congestion and enhance safety for all drivers.”

The project also includes improvements at the interchange of I-81 and Route 256 (Weyers Cave Road) at exit 235. The northbound and southbound deceleration lanes (off-ramps) and northbound acceleration lane (on-ramp) will be lengthened. The northbound and southbound bridges over Naked Creek will be widened and rehabilitated.

The $3 billion CIP includes 65 construction projects plus operational improvements along the 325 miles of I-81 in Virginia. Interactive maps, videos and podcasts, and details about upcoming and current projects are available online.

Other major I-81 CIP projects in the VDOT Staunton District include:

Staunton-area widening (under construction)
Strasburg-area southbound widening (construction starts in early 2025)
Harrisonburg-area widening (construction starts in 2026)
Winchester-area widening (construction starts in 2028)