The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has released its weekly traffic alert for the Bristol District, covering the period from June 30 to July 6, 2025. This update aims to inform motorists about ongoing highway construction and maintenance projects in southwestern Virginia. Travelers are advised to exercise caution and remain vigilant when navigating through work zones due to potential changes in traffic patterns and slow-moving or stopped traffic.
For real-time traffic updates, VDOT encourages drivers to call their 511 service or visit their website at https://511.vdot.virginia.gov.
The report includes several major interstate projects:
– Interstate 81 is undergoing widening between exits 10 and 7 southbound in Washington County, with completion expected by November 2025.
– In Bristol, Route 11 and I-81 off-ramps at exit 5 are being widened to improve traffic flow, with a projected completion date of May 2026.
– Wythe County is seeing an extension of the deceleration lane at exit 81 on I-81 southbound, scheduled for completion by October 2025.
– Roadway improvements on I-81 southbound between exits 73 and 72 in Wythe County are set for fall 2026 completion.
– A bridge replacement project is underway on northbound I-77 at exit 62 over Route 606 in Bland County, with late 2025 as the target finish date.
– Construction of a truck climbing lane on I-77 northbound from mile marker 30.6 to exit 32 in Wythe County is expected to be completed by June 2026.
Updated maintenance activities include daytime bridge deck repairs on I-81 between exits 24 and 26 in Washington County and nighttime installation of a temporary traffic count station southbound between mile markers zero and three-point-nine in Bristol.
Primary highways and high-traffic secondary roads also have ongoing projects:
In Buchanan County:
Work continues on the bridge construction over Left Fork on Route 646 (Guesses Fork Road), with an October completion date. The Poplar Creek Phase A project affects Routes 460/121 and has permanently changed access routes.
In Dickenson County:
Repairs are ongoing for the Route 619 (Skeetrock Road) bridge over Pound River, expected to finish by November next year. The Route63 bridge replacement project will continue until April2026.
In Scott County:
Intersection improvements at Route23/58 near Duffield aim for a June2026 conclusion.
In Tazewell County:
The Front Street bridge replacement over Clinch River requires detours until April2026. Leatherwood Lane intersection improvements should conclude by August next year.
In Wise County:
Safety improvements near Indian Mountain Trade Center along Route23 will remove two median crossovers by December next year.
Finally, Wythe County’s Progress Park Connector/I77 Exit41 project includes new road construction set for November2026 completion. The Crigger Road bridge remains restricted pending replacement scheduled for October2026 start.
