I-81 detours and slow-roll closures in Augusta County for bridge construction

STAUNTON — Bridge work will require overnight closures, detours and slow-roll traffic control on Interstate 81 in Augusta County during the week of July 29-Aug. 2, 2024. Contractors will be using cranes to place steel girders for the new Route 635 (Barterbrook Road) bridge over I-81 near mile marker 221 in the Staunton area.

In preparation for the overnight bridge work, southbound I-81 will also have left-lane closures Monday through Thursday nights (July 22-26) from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Monday through Wednesday nights (July 29-31):

• The left lane of I-81 northbound and southbound will be closed from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. to allow staging of equipment, materials and personnel.
• Northbound I-81 will be fully closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. During this time, northbound I-81 drivers will detour at exit 220 onto Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) around Staunton, and rejoin I-81 at exit 225. Northbound I-81 drivers who need to access I-64 eastbound at exit 221 will follow the detour route, then take I-81 southbound to exit 221.
• Each morning immediately following the full closures, the left lane of I-81 northbound will be closed from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Thursday night (Aug. 1):

• The left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. to allow staging of equipment, materials and personnel.
• Between 11 p.m. at 5 a.m. southbound I-81 will be closed periodically, for no more than 20 minutes at a time. During these closures, Virginia State Police will manage slow-roll traffic control (rolling roadblocks) on southbound I-81 between exits 225 and 220, and westbound I-64 between exit 91 and the I-81 interchange.
• Immediately following the slow rolls, the left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Friday.

Friday night (Aug. 2):

• The left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. to allow staging of equipment, materials and personnel.
• Between 11 p.m. at 5 a.m. southbound I-81 will be closed periodically, for no more than 20 minutes at a time. During these closures, Virginia State Police will manage slow-roll traffic control (rolling roadblocks) on southbound I-81 between exits 225 and 220, and westbound I-64 between exit 91 and the I-81 interchange.
• Immediately following the slow rolls, the left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday.

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, such as bridge beam placement, to safely take place free of live traffic. Traffic can also be temporarily stopped and held by a lead vehicle in each lane.

Signs and digital message boards will advise motorists of the closures and associated detour routes. All work is weather permitting, and the schedule is subject to change.

The Route 635 overpass bridge must be replaced as part of a project to construct a new auxiliary lane on southbound I-81 between exit 221 (I-64 junction) and exit 220 (Route 262 south). Route 635 in the area of the bridge over I-81 is closed through mid-2025 due to the bridge replacement. Detour routes and information are on the VDOT project page.

The I-81 southbound auxiliary lane and Route 635 bridge replacement project is part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP), to improve safety, increase reliability and foster economic growth along the 325-mile corridor in Virginia. Additional information about the program is at Improve81.org.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

Obtain traffic alerts and traveler information by dialing 511 or visiting 511Virginia.org. For other assistance, call the VDOT Customer Service Center, available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR- ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia’s roads.

The VDOT Staunton District is on Facebook and X (Twitter). Follow VDOT statewide accounts on Facebook, Flickr, X and YouTube. The VDOT Web page is at https://vdot.virginia.gov/.