Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Virginia Department of Transportation will host a public meeting Tuesday, Oct. 28, to gather input on potential improvements along Interstate 81 in Virginia. The session is part of Round 3 of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan, which focuses on refining proposed solutions for safety and congestion issues.
The Salem meeting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center, 1001 Roanoke Boulevard. Participants can view display boards, ask questions of the study team, and provide feedback on the proposed projects.
“This final round of public engagement is critical to help VDOT prioritize improvements that will enhance safety and travel flow along I-81,” the department said in a release.
VDOT is also offering an online survey, available from Oct. 27 through Nov. 9, with translation tools for multiple languages. Comments can be submitted via email to va81corridorplan@vdot.virginia.gov or by mail to Robert J. Williams, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1221 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
The I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan study examines the interstate’s most congested segments and those with the highest crash rates, excluding areas where recent or ongoing widening and truck-climbing lane projects exist. Round 1 identified issues, Round 2 developed potential solutions, and Round 3 refines those plans for public review.
VDOT completed a similar study in 2018 that led to 65 construction projects now valued at about $4 billion. The full I-81 CIP study is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
Other public meetings will be held in Abingdon on Oct. 27, Weyers Cave on Oct. 29, and Winchester on Oct. 30. More information, including the online survey, is available at Improve81.org.
