CONGRESSMAN
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has signed the fiscal year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill into law, including $17 million for widening projects and safety enhancements along Interstate 81, according to the office of U.S. Rep. Ben Cline, R-Va.
Cline, who represents Virginia’s 6th Congressional District and serves on the House Appropriations Committee, said the funding will support efforts to address congestion and safety concerns along the heavily traveled corridor.
“Interstate 81 is a critical component of the Shenandoah Valley and plays an outsized role in the region’s economy and daily life,” Cline said in a statement. “From local commuters and families to farmers, manufacturers and truck drivers, countless Virginians rely on this corridor every day. This funding allows us to begin tackling persistent safety and congestion challenges while laying the groundwork for future capacity improvements.”
Interstate 81 carries both passenger and freight traffic through western Virginia and the Shenandoah Valley. According to information provided by Cline’s office, more than 12 million commercial trucks travel the interstate each year, transporting more than $300 billion in goods.
Originally constructed more than 50 years ago, sections of I-81 have struggled to keep pace with rising traffic volumes. A 2018 state report identified significant needs along the corridor, and Virginia has undertaken improvement projects in recent years through its Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program.
That program includes plans to widen portions of the highway from two lanes to three in key areas, a change intended to reduce congestion, improve reliability and provide additional space for emergency response vehicles. Transportation officials have also said such improvements can help reduce crash risks by allowing more room for vehicles to maneuver.
Cline represents communities across western and central Virginia, including much of the I-81 corridor.
-The Salem Times-Register
