VDOT sets public meetings Oct. 27-30 for Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Plan

RICHMOND — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will host a series of public meetings Oct. 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

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

The accompanying Round 3 online survey, which has a translation tool for multiple languages, 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. Engagement from motorists, residents, businesses, and other stakeholders is important for the team to develop a new corridor plan that effectively addresses current and future transportation needs on I-81.

This study is being conducted as part of the Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program (IOEP), which is intended to improve safety, reliability and travel flow along interstate highway corridors in the commonwealth through the development and funding of operational and capital improvements. 

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.