The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has released its weekly update on highway construction and maintenance projects for southwestern Virginia, covering the period from August 25 to 31, 2025. The department advises motorists to exercise caution when traveling through work zones and to stay alert for changes in traffic patterns and possible delays.
VDOT encourages drivers to use its real-time information service by calling 511 or visiting https://511.vdot.virginia.gov to plan their routes more efficiently.
Major ongoing projects include the widening of Interstate 81 southbound between exits 10 and 7 in Washington County, as well as northbound improvements near exit 7. This project is expected to be completed by November 2025. In Bristol, work continues on widening Route 11 and the I-81 off-ramps at exit 5, with additional intersection and signal upgrades scheduled for completion in May 2026.
Other notable interstate work includes extending the deceleration lane at exit 81 southbound on I-81 in Wythe County (completion October 2025), constructing an auxiliary lane between exits 73 and 72 southbound (completion fall 2026), and building a truck climbing lane northbound on I-77 from mile marker 30.6 to exit 32 in Wythe County (completion June 2026).
Improvements are also underway at the Big Walker Mountain Tunnel on I-77 between mile markers 47 and 49 in Bland County. Nighttime delays are expected during ventilation upgrades, with escorted traffic operations scheduled from August 24–29.
Routine maintenance will cause nighttime bridge deck repairs, paving operations, and super load transports along both Interstates 81 and 77 during this week.
On primary highways and high-traffic secondary roads across Buchanan, Dickenson, Scott, Tazewell, Washington, Wise, and Wythe counties, multiple bridge replacements and roadwork projects continue. These include bridge construction over Left Fork on Route 646 in Buchanan County (completion October 2025), Poplar Creek Phase A & B construction affecting Route 460/121 access points near Grundy; repairs using temporary signals on Route 619’s Skeetrock Road bridge over Pound River in Dickenson County (completion November 2025); sinkhole repairs controlling one-way traffic via signals on Route 72 north of Midway Road in Scott County (expected completion mid-September); replacement of Front Street bridge over Clinch River in Richlands with detours posted until April 2026; Crescent Drive bridge replacement causing closures near Glade Spring until August 29; safety improvements at the intersection of Route 23/Carriage Lane near Indian Mountain Trade Center in Wise County; and continued development of a new connector road linking Nye Road with E. Lee Trinkle Road as part of Progress Park Connector/I-77 Exit 41 project in Wytheville (completion November 2026).
Motorists are reminded to heed all posted signs, message boards, flaggers’ instructions, detour routes where applicable, and remain vigilant for workers throughout these active construction areas.
“To help motorists take the guesswork out of travel plans, call VDOT’s 511 or visit https://511.vdot.virginia.gov for real-time traffic information.”
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