Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public design hearing Nov. 6 on a proposed project to widen about nine miles of Interstate 81 between Exit 128 in Montgomery County and Exit 137 in Roanoke County/Salem.
The hearing will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at Glenvar Elementary School, 4507 Malus Drive in Salem. The event will be held in an open-house format, with VDOT representatives available to answer questions and provide project details.
The proposed improvements aim to enhance safety and increase capacity by expanding the highway from two lanes to three in both directions. The project also includes replacing seven pairs of bridges, installing concrete barrier walls in narrow median sections, and constructing sound walls in select areas.
Ramp upgrades are planned at Exit 128 (Ironto), Exit 132 (Dixie Caverns), and the Ironto Rest Area. The project will involve changes and/or breaks in limited access along the corridor.
Public comments may be submitted at the hearing or sent by mail through Nov. 16, 2025, to Craig Moore, Project Manager, 731 Harrison Avenue, Salem, VA 24153. Comments may also be emailed to I81IrontotoSalem@vdot.virginia.gov with the subject line “I-81 Exits 128 to 137 Widening Public Comment.”
Anyone requiring special assistance to attend or participate may contact Moore at 540-387-5353, 800-367-7623, or TTY/TDD 711.
The widening project is part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program, a $3 billion initiative launched in 2019 that includes 65 capital projects and numerous operational upgrades along the interstate’s 325-mile corridor through Virginia. More information is available at Improve81.org.
PHOTO
Exit 137 on Interstate 81 in Roanoke County/Salem.
Photo by Aila Boyd
