Commonwealth Transportation Board awards $361 million contract for Interstate 81 widening project

SALEM — The Commonwealth Transportation Board at its July 16 meeting in Richmond awarded a design-build contract valued at $361.6 million to Branch Civil Inc. of Roanoke to widen northbound and southbound Interstate 81 to three lanes between exit 143 in Roanoke County and exit 150 in Botetourt County. Project design is still being completed, and construction is expected to begin in fall 2025 and to finish in summer 2031.

This widening project is part of the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP), which aims to improve safety, increase reliability and foster economic growth. It is one of the largest and most complex I-81 CIP projects and includes replacing eight bridges on I-81 and installing more than 8,500 feet of sound barrier along the northbound lanes.

“This is a big step forward,” said Dave Covington, I-81 program delivery director for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). “It is the largest contract that we’ve awarded for I-81 to date, and it reinforces our commitment to improving this vital corridor.”

“VDOT has a long history of working with Branch Civil, and we look forward to a continued strong partnership to successfully deliver a project of this magnitude,” said Ken King, district engineer for VDOT’s Salem District.  

The new lanes will be built on the existing right and left shoulders of I-81 with most of widening to take place in the median. At exit 150, the ramp from northbound Route 220 (Roanoke Road) onto southbound I-81 will be realigned and the southbound I-81 off ramp will be modified to connect with Route 220 at a new signal at Tinker Mountain Road. Interchange lighting will be installed at exits 141, 143 and 150.

VDOT has produced a podcast and a video to provide more information about the widening project between exits 143 and 150. Additional podcasts and videos about the I-81 CIP can be found on the News & Multimedia page of Improve81.org.

The I-81 CIP includes 65 capital projects and numerous operational improvements throughout the interstate's 325-mile corridor in Virginia. The $3 billion program was signed into law in spring 2019. More information is available at Improve81.org.