The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host a series of public meetings October 27-30 to gather feedback regarding potential improvements along Interstate 81 in Virginia. The in-person meetings are part of Round 3 (Refined Solutions), the final round of public engagement for the I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan (CIP) 2025 study. An online survey will also be available.
Round 1 (Issue Identification) of the I-81 CIP combined traffic data with online public input to identify safety and congestion issues along the entire 325-mile corridor. Round 2 (Potential Solutions) developed improvements for interstate segments with the highest rate and severity of crashes, or the most significant traffic delays. Round 3 focuses on refining those solutions and presenting a prioritized list of projects.
This study excludes portions of the interstate where widenings or truck-climbing lanes were recently completed or are under development.
The public meetings will begin with a brief presentation followed by an open-house period, allowing participants to view large display boards and ask questions of the I-81 CIP study team.
The meeting schedule is shown below:
Monday, Oct. 27, from 5-7 p.m.
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
One Partnership Circle
Abingdon, VA 24212
Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 5-7 p.m.
Salem Civic Center
1001 Roanoke Boulevard
Salem, VA 24153
Salem Civic Center
1001 Roanoke Boulevard
Salem, VA 24153
Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 5-7 p.m.
Blue Ridge Community College
Robert E. Plecker Workforce Center
One College Lane
Weyers Cave, VA 24486
Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5-7 p.m.
Shenandoah University
Brandt Student Center
1460 University Drive
Winchester, VA 22601
Shenandoah University
Brandt Student Center
1460 University Drive
Winchester, VA 22601
The accompanying Round 3 online survey will be available from Oct. 27 to Nov. 9 on the Improve81 Study Page.
Comments can also be sent to va81corridorplan@vdot.virginia.gov or by postal mail to Robert J. Williams, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1221 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
The full I-81 CIP study is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. VACo will continue to provide updates as they become available.
VDOT completed a similar study on I-81 in 2018, which resulted in the advancement of 65 construction projects currently valued at approximately $4 billion. Information on those projects can be found at Improve81.org.
VACo Contact: James Hutzler