The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has released its weekly update on highway construction and maintenance projects for southwestern Virginia, covering the period from September 8 to 14, 2025. The report aims to inform motorists about ongoing work zones and encourage caution due to possible changes in traffic patterns or delays.
VDOT recommends that travelers use its real-time traffic information service by calling 511 or visiting https://511.vdot.virginia.gov for up-to-date details on road conditions.
Key interstate projects include the widening of Interstate 81 southbound between exits 10 and 7 in Washington County, as well as a one-mile northbound expansion from exit 7 northward. This project is expected to finish in November 2025. In Bristol, the City is working on widening Route 11 and I-81 off-ramps at exit 5 with improvements to intersections and signals; completion is scheduled for May 2026.
Additional work on Interstate 81 includes extending the deceleration lane at exit 81 southbound in Wythe County (completion October 2025), constructing an auxiliary lane southbound between exits 73 and 72 (completion fall 2026), and various nighttime paving operations, bridge repairs, and inspections along multiple segments of I-81 and I-77. A super load transport will move northbound from Bristol to the Virginia/West Virginia state line between September 8–13.
On Interstate 77 in Wythe County, a truck climbing lane is being built northbound from mile marker 30.6 to exit 32, with an expected end date of June 2026. Nighttime tunnel maintenance will also take place at Big Walker Mountain Tunnel in Bland County.
Primary highways and secondary roads across Buchanan, Dickenson, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties are seeing a range of activities including bridge construction over Left Fork on Route 646 in Buchanan County (completion October 2025), bridge repairs on Route 619 over Pound River in Dickenson County (completion November 2025), safety inspections causing temporary closures such as on Route 723 over Lewis Creek in Russell County on September 10th, sinkhole repairs controlling one-way traffic on Route 72 in Scott County (expected completion mid-September), paving preparation along Route 91 in Tazewell through early October, flood repairs closing parts of Route 611 during daytime hours beginning September 8th except for school buses in Washington County, among others.
Several larger-scale replacement projects are underway: the Front Street bridge over Clinch River is closed for replacement until April 2026 with detours marked; major intersection improvements are occurring at Routes 23/58 at Duffield; access management upgrades continue at Route 23/Hilton Road; while a new connector road linking Nye Road to E. Lee Trinkle Road near Progress Park industrial site continues under construction through November 2026.
VDOT advises all motorists traveling through these areas to remain alert for changing traffic patterns, signage indicating detours or single-lane operation controlled by temporary signals or flaggers where necessary.
