Tag Archives: i-81

VDOT I-81 Public Input Meeting at Blue Ridge Community College on October 29

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Photo of Highway

VDOT is holding a public meeting at Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Center on October 29 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. to review the final prioritized list of recommended projects in the new I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP). The meeting is an opportunity to learn more about the CIP process, the proposed projects identified for funding along the I-81 corridor in our region, and to provide comment on the draft prioritized project list. The current CIP builds on the 2018 CIP, which identified 65 construction projects worth approximately $3 billion that are now completed or in development.

In our region, the new CIP recommendations include over 70 lane miles of 3-lane widening along I-81 in both directions between Staunton and Harrisonburg to compliment the current and planned widening projects. After the public input review, the Commonwealth Transportation Board will finalize project selections in December.  Additional information and meeting details are available at improve81.org.

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Time: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Blue Ridge Community College, Robert E. Plecker Workforce Center, One College Lane, Weyers Cave, VA 24486

I-81 Transformation Continues:  Updates to Corridor Study

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Widening activity in Staunton

 

Virginia continues efforts to transform the Interstate 81 corridor with a comprehensive new study. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), working alongside the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation, is developing an updated Corridor Improvement Plan (CIP) for the entire 325-mile I-81 corridor within the Commonwealth. This latest initiative builds upon the success of the previous 2018 study, which identified 65 construction projects worth approximately $3 billion that are already completed or are now in development.

Current and Upcoming Projects in Our Region

The Staunton Construction District has two active projects and three more on the horizon:

Currently Underway:

  • Widening to three lanes between Exit 221 and Exit 225 in both directions through the City of Staunton (completion projected for June 2027)
  • Adding a truck climbing lane near Weyers Cave between mile markers 234 and 237 Southbound (completion projected for December 2027)

Planned Projects:

  • Widening to three lanes between Exit 243 and 247 in both directions through Harrisonburg (anticipated start September 2025)
  • Extending the acceleration/deceleration lane on the Southbound side of the Mt. Sidney rest area in Augusta County (anticipated start January 2028)
  • Widening to three lanes in Rockbridge County between Exit 205 and 200 Southbound (anticipated start May 2028)

With these planned improvements in progress, VDOT is reassessing traffic conditions to determine which areas require attention next, focusing on segments with the highest rate and severity of crashes or the most significant traffic delays while excluding portions where recent widenings or truck-climbing lanes have been completed or are currently under development.

Through a three-phase public engagement process, VDOT will gather community input throughout the planning process. The initial spring phase focused on issue identification through virtual surveys and interactive mapping, allowing the public to report safety and congestion problems. During the summer phase, completed in July 2025, the study team presented potential solutions at four in-person meetings held in Weyers Cave, Winchester, Bristol, and Salem, with nearly 1,700 people responding to the accompanying online survey. You can view the presentation and project boards that were shared at these public meetings at the following links:

Proposed Projects in the Staunton District

I-81 CIP Round 2 – Potential Solutions Presentation

The final engagement phase this fall will help refine recommendations before presenting them to the I-81 Advisory Committee and Commonwealth Transportation Board by year’s end.

Community input remains crucial to the success of these transportation improvements, which focus on enhancing safety, reducing congestion, and supporting economic growth along this vital corridor that serves as a critical artery for freight movement and regional connectivity.

Learn more about the 2025 Corridor Improvement Plan Study, projects previously completed and those underway at www.Improve81.org.

VDOT Seeks Input on Interstate 81 2025 Corridor Improvement Plan

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The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has launched a new study to assess and improve the Interstate 81 corridor. The I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan (CIP) will analyze the entire 325-mile stretch of the interstate in the Commonwealth to identify safety and congestion issues.

VDOT is seeking input from drivers and stakeholders to compare real-world travel experiences with traffic-data analysis. The study includes an online survey with an interactive map where participants can highlight locations with traffic concerns. This is the first phase of the study and this public engagement period is open until April 15. The survey is available in multiple languages on the VDOT Project Page, and additional comments can be submitted to va81corridorplan@vdot.virginia.gov.

After the initial public engagement period, the study team which combines data obtained from the survey data with traffic data to develop recommendations. Additional opportunities for public comment on said recommendations.

The study is part of the Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program (IOEP), which focuses on improving safety, reliability, and traffic flow on Virginia’s interstate highways. A similar study was conducted in 2018, leading to 65 construction projects totaling approximately $3 billion. Information about these projects is available at Improve81.org.