Interstate 81
I-81 & ROUTE 11 BORING SCHEDULED – Mountain Valley Pipeline is expected to perform boring across Route 11 near Apgar Drive between September 11 and September 26. In addition, boring is tentatively scheduled across I-81 near MM 130.11 between October 26 and November 17.
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 for May 2024.
DECK POURS: Crews will be performing deck pours. Drivers should expect possible flagging operations on Route 605 and slow-moving concrete trucks traveling on I-81 northbound and southbound within the work zone.
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, 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Drivers should watch for moving vehicles and equipment. Expect possible delays. Montgomery County: Paving on I-81 southbound between mile marker 108.7 and 109.9 from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Wednesday and from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Thursdays. Virginia State Police assisting.
I-81 BRIDGE DECK REPAIRS – Weather permitting, crews will repair bridge decks on Interstate 81. Between mile markers 170 to 89, 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 nearing completion. Once complete, 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. Minimal traffic impacts at this time. The project is expected to be completed in late fall 2023.
Roanoke County
SIDEWALK PROJECT ON SOUTHBOUND WILLIAMSON ROAD IN HOLLINS AREA – On weekdays starting the week of October 9, work on a project to construct new sidewalk along the section of southbound Route 11 (Williamson Road) between Plantation Road and Peters Creek Road may cause lane closures. Drivers in the Hollins area can expect periodic right lane closures on southbound Williamson Road between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. As work progresses, occasional nighttime lane closures also will be scheduled. The sidewalk project is expected to be completed in summer 2024.
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. The new roundabout is now open to traffic and drivers should be aware of the new roundabout configuration. There will be occasional flagging operations in place between the 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at the intersection of Starkey Road and Buck Mountain Road, 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 is expected in late spring 2024.
LANE CLOSURES WITH FLAGGING OPERATIONS: Lane closure times of 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. have resumed due to school now being in session.
ROUNDABOUT: The roundabout configuration has been set up. This means drivers should continue around the circle without turning left and that drivers in the circle have the right of way.
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
ROUTE 795 CLOSURE FOR PIPE REPLACEMENT – Route 795 (Orchard Drive) in the Daleville area will be closed at house number 62 for a pipe replacement beginning Monday, October 23 at 9 a.m. The road will reopen by the end of the day on Thursday, Oct. 26. Message boards will alert drivers.
