INTERSTATE 581
I-581 PATCHING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, beginning August 18, crews will perform paving and patching operations. Lane closures will be in place northbound and southbound, Sunday through Thursday, during nighttime hours, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
INTERSTATE 77 (CARROLL COUNTY)
I-77 PAVING & PATCHING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will perform paving and patching operations on Interstate I-77. Right, left and center lane closures will be in place northbound and southbound, Monday through Friday, during nighttime hours, 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
I-77 BRIDGE DECK REPAIRS – Weather permitting, crews will perform paving operations on Interstate 77. Right and left lane closures will be in place northbound and southbound during nighttime hours, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.
Bridge deck overlays on I-77 from 8.78 miles north of the North Carolina line to 6.24 miles south of the intersection with Route 58 a r e underway. Lane closures will be in place underneath the bridge o n Route 148. Expected completion date is scheduled for Fall 2025.
ROANOKE CITY ORANGE AVENUE OFF RAMP SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS – Drivers can expect shoulder closures, narrow ramps and lane closures eastbound and westbound on Route 460 (Orange Avenue) from Burrell Street northwest and Gainsboro Road northwest to the intersection of Williamson Road northeast and on the off ramp from I-581. Shoulder closures expected on Route 460 (Orange Avenue) eastbound and westbound with right and left lane closures in place during nighttime hours. Delays are possible.
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.
