Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Virginia Department of Transportation hosted a public meeting July 17 at the Salem Civic Center to gather community feedback on potential upgrades to Interstate 81 as part of the 2025 Corridor Improvement Plan.
The event was one of four in-person meetings held across the corridor during Round 2 of the planning process, which focuses on identifying possible solutions to congestion and safety concerns. The study is being led by VDOT in coordination with the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation.
The current planning effort builds on the 2018 I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan, which led to the advancement of 65 construction projects worth approximately $3 billion. With many of those projects now completed or underway, the 2025 study aims to evaluate how traffic conditions have changed and determine which areas of the corridor still need attention.
Round 2 targets potential improvements along the 325-mile corridor, prioritizing segments with high crash rates or severe delays, VDOT said. Sections where widenings or truck-climbing lanes have recently been built or are in development are excluded from the study.
During the meeting, attendees reviewed large maps and display boards, asked questions of the study team, and learned more about how previous community input influenced the study’s direction. The event began with a brief presentation before transitioning to an open-house format.
An online survey is also open through July 28 at the Improve81 Study Page. The survey includes multilingual support and an interactive map that allows users to pinpoint problem areas along the interstate. Feedback can also be submitted by email to va81corridorplan@vdot.virginia.gov or by mail to Robert J. Williams, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1401 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
The study team previously collected data and virtual public input in spring 2025 to identify key issues along the corridor. A third round of outreach will occur in fall 2025 to help refine proposed solutions. The final recommendations will be presented later this year to both the Commonwealth Transportation Board and the I-81 Advisory Committee.
VDOT emphasized the importance of public engagement in shaping the plan, noting that feedback from motorists, residents, businesses, and other stakeholders will help address the corridor’s current and future transportation needs.
The I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan is part of Virginia’s broader Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program, which aims to improve safety, reliability, and travel flow on key highways throughout the state.
