Southbound I-81 Overnight Closure April 18-19 near Staunton

STAUNTON – Southbound Interstate 81 is set to close in the Staunton area from 8 p.m. Saturday, April 18, through 7 a.m. Sunday, April 19. The closure allows contractors to set up for a traffic-pattern shift as part of an ongoing interstate widening project.

During the overnight closure:

• Southbound I-81 drivers will detour at exit 225 and use the Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) bypass around Staunton. They will rejoin the interstate at exit 220 just south of the city.
• Southbound I-81 drivers who need to reach I-64 eastbound will use exit 225, follow the Route 262 detour around Staunton, join I-81 northbound at exit 220 and then take exit 221 to go east on I-64.
• The on-ramp from Route 262 onto southbound I-81 at exit 225 will be closed, but the on-ramp from Route 250 (Jefferson Highway) at exit 222 will be open.

Digital message boards will alert motorists of the southbound closure and advise them to follow green-and-white “Emergency Route A” signs to navigate through the detour.

When I-81 southbound reopens Sunday morning, April 19, drivers will shift toward the left (toward the median) just before exit 225, and then back to the right near mile marker 224, just before the Route 254 (New Hope Road) overpass bridge. This traffic pattern will remain in place for several months.

All work is weather permitting, and schedules are subject to change.

The traffic shift allows contractors to commence phase-two widening of the southbound bridge over Lewis Creek. The roadwork is part of the project to add a third lane in both directions of I-81 between exit 221 and exit 225. Motorists should be alert for shoulder closures and construction equipment entering and exiting the work zone. The work-zone speed limit is 60 miles an hour.

The project is scheduled for final completion in summer 2027, but all three northbound lanes are expected to open to traffic in late fall of 2026.

The Staunton-area widening is being constructed under a $101 million design-build contract, as part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP). Other major I-81 CIP projects in the VDOT Staunton District include:

• Weyers Cave truck-climbing lanes (scheduled for completion in late 2027)
• Strasburg-area widening (scheduled for completion in fall 2028)
• Harrisonburg-area widening (construction starts in spring 2026)
• Winchester-area widening (construction starts in 2028)

The nearly $4 billion CIP includes 65 construction projects plus operational improvements along I-81 in Virginia to enhance safety, reduce congestion and unlock the region for further economic growth. Find out more at Improve81.org. The website includes interactive maps, videos and podcasts, and details about upcoming and current projects.

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. Use its mobile friendly website or call 800-367-7623.

Find the VDOT Staunton District on Facebook and X and follow VDOT statewide social media accounts. News releases, travel tips and project updates are on the VDOT website.

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

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