VDOT transportation planners have released the next round of projects to improve I-81 and are hosting a series of meetings along the corridor for your feedback.
- Wednesday, October 29: 5-7 PM at Blue Ridge Community College Plecker Workforce Center in Weyers Cave (directions)
- Thursday, October 30: 5-7 PM at Shenandoah University Brandt Student Center in Winchester (directions)
Unfortunately, planners have narrowed the scope of improvements to only include widening projects on the interstate itself. This overlooks some critical upgrades at off-ramps where traffic often backs up and creates safety hazards. We raised this concern in the comments we submitted during the July public input period.
While we appreciate the continued use of a data-driven process, the unnecessarily limited scope may be eliminating needed improvements and prioritizing less effective projects with limited taxpayer dollars.
I encourage you to take a look at the project list and attend one of the meetings next week. Let transportation planners know what you think about the proposed projects and tell them about other trouble spots off the interstate that contribute to safety issues. If you can’t make the meetings, there will also be an online survey that opens on October 27 or you can email your comments to va81corridorplan@vdot.virginia.gov.
The new project proposals will come next, after the initial projects outlined in the I-81 Corridor Plan. The Alliance supported the initial list of projects identified in 2018 because they addressed the unique issues on I-81:
- I-81 has curves and hills that cause speed disparities that can lead to accidents, especially with heavy truck traffic.
- I-81 accidents involving heavy trucks take longer to clear, often requiring specialized equipment or hazardous waste clean up.
- I-81 isn’t consistently congested at specific times of the day like the traffic in northern Virginia, but when crashes happen, traffic can be severely disrupted.
Informed by data and community input, the 2018 plan proposed targeted improvements at key problem areas, including truck climbing lanes, on-ramp extensions, and added capacity in the more congested sections near Staunton and Harrisonburg.
The 2018 plan didn’t just focus on pavement projects–it also tackled safety through quicker accident clearing and better curve signage. The non-pavement solutions were readily implemented and have already shown measurable safety improvements with accident clearance times reduced by 24%. Sixteen of the pavement projects are currently underway (as I’m sure you’ve noticed!) and there are 14 more planned.
We encourage you to review the current proposed projects and, most importantly, speak up about those critical trouble spots off the interstate that planners may have overlooked. Your feedback is vital to ensure our limited taxpayer dollars are invested in the projects that truly deliver the safest and most effective improvements for the entire I-81 corridor.