VDOT Roadwatch

Interstate 81

INTERSTATE 81 LANE WIDENING CONSTRUCTION PROJECT EXIT 137 TO EXIT 141 – A $179 million design-build project to widen both directions of I-81 between mile markers 136.6 and 141.8 from two to three lanes is set to begin. Starting in February and continuing into the early summer, work will be performed on the inside and outside shoulders along a five-mile section of both northbound and southbound Interstate 81 in Roanoke County and the city of Salem. The shoulders will be built up before barrier wall can be installed for road crews to work behind. Barrier wall will be installed along the shoulders in the spring and summer. Two lanes of I-81 traffic in each direction will remain open during the project with periodic lane closures scheduled during nighttime hours or outside of peak travel times as needed.  Drivers can expect the following lane closures and upcoming impacts on northbound and southbound I-81:

ADDITIONAL TRAFFIC IMPACTS:

TRAFFIC SHIFT ON WILDWOOD ROAD: Expect a traffic shift with narrow width on Wildwood road after exiting I-81 southbound heading towards Salem. Southbound and northbound I-81 exit and entrance ramp narrows possible at Route 311.

WORK ZONE SPEED: With narrow spacing in lanes due to barrier walls, lack of shoulders and lane shifts in various locations, drivers should adhere to posted 60 mph speed limits in the work zone and allow space when following a vehicle.

RAMP CLOSURES: Ramp closures are possible during nighttime hours, 12 a.m., to 5 a.m. Drivers should watch for message boards dates and times the ramp will be closed.

LANE CLOSURES: Alternating left and right lane and shoulder closures during nighttime hours between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, are possible. Lane widths will be reduced to 11 feet. Nightly lane closures may be in place along the right lane with possible nightly ramp narrows as needed for guardrail and shoulder strengthening.

The project also includes replacing six bridges, widening two bridges, installing approximately 2.6 miles of sound barrier walls along northbound I-81, improving the southbound exit 137 off-ramp intersection at Wildwood Road and adding interchange lighting at exits 137, 140 and 141 are also included in the project. Expected completion in early 2026. 

 I-81 NORTHBOUND AT EXIT 105 NEW RIVER BRIDGE REPLACEMENT IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY – Traffic on northbound I-81 has been switched onto the newly constructed bridge over the New River at the Montgomery/Pulaski County line. The old bridge is being demolished. Lane and shoulder closures may be in place near exit 105. Lane closure may be in effect during the week from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Shoulder closures may be in effect at any time during the week. Slow rolls may be performed on I-81 in the north and southbound lanes from mile marker 98 to 109. Speed limit is reduced to 60 miles per hour in the work zone. Shoulder closures will remain in place though the duration of the project. Project completion is estimated by summer 2023.

• ROUTE 605 – There will be intermittent lane closures on Route 605 under the bridge maintained by flagging operations.
• SLOW ROLLS: A slow roll operation may be in place daily, Monday through Friday, between mile marker 101 and 105 northbound and between mile marker 109 and 105 southbound, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Slow rolls may be utilized periodically on both the northbound and southbound lanes from mile marker 98-109 for structural steel deliveries and setting beams.

• LANE CLOSURES: Nighttime alternating lane closures will be in place on I-81 northbound between mile markers 104-106 from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning.
• ROUTE 605: Alternating lane closures and flagging operations will be present on Route 605, located under the New River Bridge, for work overhead on the bridge.

I-81 PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will be performing paving operations along Interstate 81.  Right and left lane closures may be in place along northbound and southbound lanes during nighttime hours, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers should watch for moving vehicles and equipment. Expect possible delays.

I-81 BRIDGE DECK REPAIRS – Weather permitting, crews will repair bridge decks on Interstate 81. Between mile markers 170 to 95, right and left lane closures will be in place northbound and southbound during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.

Interstate 581

I-581/220 EXPRESSWAY PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will pave, patch and repair pavement on various routes.  Lane closures may be in place during nighttime hours, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following morning. Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.

I-581/220 LANE & RAMP CLOSURES FOR PAVING AND MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS IN ROANOKE COUNTY– Weather permitting, crews will be milling and paving along Interstate 81. Right and left lane closures will be in place along northbound and southbound lanes during nighttime hours. Drivers should expect possible delays.

Roanoke City

13th STREET SE IMPROVEMENTS WITH DETOUR – A project to improve a portion of 13th Street SE in Roanoke is underway. Located in a residential neighborhood just east of downtown Roanoke, this project will improve traffic flow and connectivity along 13th Street SE from Tazewell Avenue to Norfolk Avenue. The project entails reconstructing about 0.2-mile of 13th Street as an improved, two-lane roadway with 10.5-foot-wide travel lane and a raised median. A new roadway will extend 13th Street to Norfolk Avenue and the intersection at 13th Street and Wise Avenue will be reconfigured to include a roundabout. Bike lanes, sidewalks, crosswalks and curb and gutter will also be added. Southbound 13th Street traffic has a detour in place using Norfolk Avenue onto 12th Street to Tazewell Avenue. This detour will be in place throughout the duration of this project. Signs will be posted to designate the detour route. Northbound 13th Street will remain open to traffic. Flaggers may be possible and the speed limit through the work zone is 25 mph. Alternating lane closures maintained by flagging operations may be in place. The project is expected to be completed in August 2023.

Roanoke County

STARKEY ROAD AND BUCK MOUNTAIN ROAD ROUNDABOUT – A road project to construct a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Route 904 (Starkey Road) and Route 679 (Buck Mountain Road) is underway. Drivers should be aware of a new three-way stop to be implemented in the work zone at the intersection. A flagging operation will be in place between the 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the intersection of Starkey Road and Buck Mountain Road. The new roundabout is expected to be open to traffic sometime this summer. Once the roundabout is open, drivers should still expect lane closures with flaggers controlling traffic for final paving, additional concrete pouring and pavement marking until the project is finished. Final completion expected in late spring 2024.

LANE CLOSURES WITH FLAGGING OPERATIONS: Lane closures with flagging operations will be in place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the summer. Lane closure times of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. will resume on Monday, July 31 to allow preparation for school to begin. 

THREE WAY STOP: Stop signs will be in place on each road approaching the intersection. This means drivers on Buck Mountain Road who do not stop currently will be required to stop while the intersection is under construction.

TRAFFIC SHIFTS: In addition, drivers should also be alert to traffic shifts and changing traffic patterns while the roundabout is under construction.

BRADSHAW ROAD CLOSED TO THROUGH TRAFFIC FOR PIPE REPLACEMENT – Weather permitting, starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, July 31, work to replace a pipe on Route 622 (Bradshaw Road) in Roanoke County will require that the road be closed to through traffic for approximately five days. The pipe will be replaced in the 7700 Block of Bradshaw Road at a location about 11 miles west of Route 311 and six miles east of Route 603 (North Fork Road). Through traffic will need to detour around the closure. Message boards will be in place to advise motorists of the closure. Estimated date of completion is Friday, August 4.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY PIPELINE – Mountain Valley Pipeline is expected to begin full construction again by mid-July. Temporary intermittent flagging operations will be in place in the county throughout the remainder of the project  (with a tentative completion date of February 2024) to load/unload equipment at crossings and construction entrances. Scheduled completion is February 2024.

PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will pave, patch and repair pavement on various routes.  Lane closures may be in place and flaggers may control traffic at times during daylight or nighttime hours.  Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.

Botetourt County

DALEVILLE INTERSECTION PROJECT FOR FIELDSTONE DEVELOPMENT ACCESS – Lane closures northbound and southbound on Route 220 in Daleville will be in place for construction of a median with crossover, a right turn lane and a new traffic signal. This work is associated with construction of the Fieldstone Development through a permit. Lane closures will be set up on various days and noise disturbances may be in place through August 2023.

ROUTE 11 BUCHANAN BRIDGE PROJECT – A construction project on the Route 11 Bridge in the Town of Buchanan is underway. Water Street is closed for the duration of the project. Drivers should expect delays due to a single lane closure across the bridge with a flagging operation. The jacking and bearing replacements have been completed. Contractors are now applying protective paint underneath the bridge and will replace expansion dams on the bridge deck. Message boards are present to alert and update drivers. Expected completion in Summer 2023.

FLAGGING OPERATION – A flagging operation will be in place on the bridge Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. until early part of August 2023. Drivers should expect delays.

PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will pave, patch and repair pavement on various routes.  Lane closures may be in place and flaggers may control traffic at times during daylight or nighttime hours.  Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.

Route 11 – Milling and paving with flaggers and alternating lane closures, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., from Route 838 to 0.12 miles north of Route 1039 Route 167 to just past Route 653.

Craig County

PAVING OPERATIONS – Weather permitting, crews will pave, patch and repair pavement on various routes.  Lane closures may be in place and flaggers may control traffic at times during daylight or nighttime hours.  Drivers should watch for signs and expect possible delays.

MOUNTAIN VALLEY PIPELINE – Mountain Valley Pipeline is expected to begin full construction again. Temporary intermittent flagging operations will be in place in the county throughout the remainder of the project (with a tentative completion date of February 2024) to load/unload equipment at crossings and construction entrances. Scheduled completion is February 2024.