Northbound and southbound drivers on Interstate 81 should be alert for overnight lane closures in Augusta and Rockingham counties starting on or about Monday night, March 17.
The lane closures will be needed at various locations in the Weyers Cave area, between mile marker 234.1 and 237.9, for early stages of truck-climbing lanes construction. At the completion of the project, I-81 will have three lanes in each direction by widening to the median, allowing trucks to use the two most right lanes.
Overnight lane closures will generally take place Monday through Friday nights from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. using the following schedule:
For about three months beginning in mid-March, right lane closures will allow shoulder strengthening work along the northbound and southbound right shoulders.
Starting in summer 2025, left lane closures will be needed for about six weeks due to installation of concrete barriers along the median. VDOT will provide additional information when these operations begin.
A work-zone speed limit of 60 miles an hour will be in place for the duration of the construction project. Motorists should also be alert for construction equipment moving in and out of the work zone at various locations.
All work is weather permitting.
The truck-climbing lanes, part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP), are being constructed in an area with steep terrain in both directions. They will allow slower-moving commercial vehicles to shift to the right, reducing conflicts with motorists in the primary travel lanes. The project also widens two bridges and improves 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 Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) in December 2024 awarded a $61.4 million contract to Branch Civil Inc. of Roanoke. Completion is scheduled for late 2027. Additional information is on the VDOT project page.
The $3 billion CIP includes 65 construction projects plus operational improvements along I-81 in Virginia to enhance safety, reduce congestion and unlock the region for further economic growth. More information is available online with interactive maps, videos and podcasts, and details about upcoming and current projects.
Other major I-81 CIP projects in the VDOT Staunton District include:
Staunton-area widening (under construction)
Strasburg-area southbound widening (under construction)
Harrisonburg-area widening (construction starts in early 2026)
Winchester-area widening (construction starts in 2028)
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Rebecca Barnabi
