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Program Overview

The I-81 Corridor Improvement Program is enhancing safety and reliability, reducing congestion and unlocking economic growth along a critical portion of our nation’s infrastructure.

I-81 is a key north-south backbone of the East Coast’s freight network and has the highest per-capita truck volume in Virginia. More than one-third of all trucks and nearly half of the state’s value of goods are transported along the 325-mile corridor. I-81 in Virginia also connects 30 colleges and universities, 13 counties, 21 cities and towns, and parallels the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive.

The I-81 corridor spans three VDOT districts in western Virginia: Bristol, Salem, and Staunton. These districts serve the counties of Washington, Smyth, Wythe, Pulaski, Montgomery, Roanoke, Botetourt, Rockbridge, Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Frederick as well as the cities of Bristol, Salem, Roanoke, Staunton, Harrisonburg and Winchester.

11.7M trucks/year, $312B goods/year, 42% of statewide interstate truck VMT

What are the Program Improvements?

There are 65 construction projects including additional travel lanes in areas where they are needed most. Other projects include truck-climbing lanes through challenging terrain, and merge-lane extensions at many interchanges.

Traffic-operations improvements include digital message signs, additional traffic cameras to detect incidents, rapid-towing incentives, curve warnings and parallel route enhancements. The I-81 CIP also supports multimodal improvements in partnership with the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation and the Virginia Passenger Rail Authority.

For more details on specific program improvements, please visit the Planned Improvements page, Work Underway page or Work Completed page.

How are they Funded?

Bills Authorizing I-81 Corridor Improvement Program and Fund

In 2019 the General Assembly adopted legislation creating the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Fund. Revenues supporting the fund and improvements were identified from the following sources:

Regional fuels tax

Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program*

*I-81 receives a percentage of the Interstate Operations and Enhancement Program based on the ratio of vehicle miles traveled by Class 6 vehicles.

More information about funding resources is available in the July 2022 I-81 CIP Financial Update.

How the Program Developed

Graphic showing program history: April - December 2018 The Program began with a corridor study completed by Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment, the Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation. December 2018 CTB approves I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan identifying $2 billion of projects for the corrido

Last updated: December 2, 2024