Controlled Blasting Scheduled for I-81 near Weyers Cave

UPDATE: Due to the weather forecast for Wednesday, the blasting operation has been moved to Thursday, April 30, at 10:30 a.m.

STAUNTON — On Wednesday, April 29, a controlled blast will remove large areas of rock in the median of Interstate 81 near the Augusta-Rockingham county line. The location is near mile marker 236 in the Weyers Cave area.

The controlled blast is scheduled to take place between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. A second blast may be required the week of May 4.

Just before the controlled blast, which may be audible in the Weyers Cave area, Virginia State Police will use a slow roll to briefly stop I-81 motorists near mile marker 232 northbound and mile marker 240 southbound. The northbound on-ramp from exit 235 and the southbound on-ramp from exit 240 will also be briefly closed during the blast.

A slow roll is a traffic management operation where a traffic gap is created by reducing approaching traffic speeds to as low as 10 mph. This gap allows work to safely take place free of live traffic. Traffic can also be temporarily stopped and held by a lead vehicle in each lane. Each slow roll operation typically lasts no more than 15 minutes.

The controlled blast is part of construction for the I-81 truck climbing lanes in the Weyers Cave area. In December 2024, the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) awarded a $61.4 million construction contract to Branch Civil Inc. of Roanoke as part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP). Completion is scheduled for late 2027. Additional information is on the VDOT project page.

The $4 billion CIP includes 65 construction projects plus operational improvements along the 325 miles of I-81 in Virginia. Find out more at Improve81.org. The website includes an interactive map, videos, newsletters, and details about current and upcoming projects.

Other major I-81 CIP projects in the VDOT Staunton District include:

• Staunton-area widening (scheduled for completion in summer 2027)
• Strasburg-area widening (scheduled for completion in fall 2028)
• Harrisonburg-area widening (scheduled for completion in summer 2032)
• Winchester-area widening (construction starts in 2028)

For updated traffic alerts and travel information dial 511, visit the 511 Virginia website or download the mobile app.

The VDOT Customer Service Center operates 24/7 to help roadway users report potential hazards, make service requests or get information related to Virginia’s transportation network. Call 800-367-7623 or use its mobile friendly website.

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