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Rockingham County: Upgrades at I-81 travel center to ease traffic congestion starting next week

Rebecca Barnabi
Courtesy of VDOT.

Numerous roadway and intersection improvements will help handle increased traffic starting Monday, June 30, when a new travel center opens in Rockingham County.

The location is next to the Interstate 81 exit 240 interchange with Route 257/682 (Friedens Church Road) near Mount Crawford.

The following modifications, funded by the business through an agreement with the county, will be in place by June 30:

A dedicated lane from the northbound I-81 exit 240 off-ramp onto Buc-ee’s Boulevard. This “slip lane” will allow northbound interstate traffic to reach the travel center without stopping at a traffic signal.

A second merge lane from westbound Friedens Church Road onto northbound I-81. This is a slip lane that will not stop at a traffic signal.

A second left-turn lane from Friedens Church Road onto the ramp to southbound I-81.

A second left-turn lane from the southbound I-81 exit ramp onto Friedens Church Road.

New turn lanes from eastbound and westbound Friedens Church Road onto Buc-ee’s Boulevard.

Dual left-turn lanes from Buc-ee’s Boulevard onto Friedens Church Road.

Upgrades are also in equipment and timing for the three traffic signals along Friedens Church Road at the intersections with southbound I-81, northbound I-81 and Route 950 (Walton Way/Buc-ee’s Boulevard).

Motorists may still experience congestion and traffic delays around the interchange. Law enforcement will assist with traffic control in the area through the July 4th holiday weekend.

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca J. Barnabi is the national editor of Augusta Free Press. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington, she began her journalism career at The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. In 2013, she was awarded first place for feature writing in the Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia Awards Program, and was honored by the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2019 Media Honor Roll Program for her coverage of Waynesboro Schools. Her background in newspapers includes writing about features, local government, education and the arts.