The Virginia Department of Transportation announced on April 24 that a controlled blast will take place on Wednesday, April 29, to remove large areas of rock in the median of Interstate 81 near the Augusta-Rockingham county line. The operation is scheduled between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. near mile marker 236 in the Weyers Cave area, with a possible second blast during the week of May 4.
The project aims to support construction for truck climbing lanes as part of ongoing improvements along I-81. These efforts are intended to enhance safety and efficiency for motorists traveling through this corridor.
During the blast, Virginia State Police will conduct a slow roll to briefly stop traffic on I-81 northbound at mile marker 232 and southbound at mile marker 240. The northbound on-ramp from exit 235 and southbound on-ramp from exit 240 will also be temporarily closed. A slow roll is a traffic management technique where vehicles are slowed down or stopped by lead vehicles, creating a gap so work can proceed safely without live traffic; each operation typically lasts no more than fifteen minutes.
This controlled blast is part of an I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP) project awarded in December to Branch Civil Inc., valued at $61.4 million, with completion expected by late 2027. The broader CIP encompasses $4 billion worth of projects across Virginia’s stretch of I-81, including widening projects in Staunton (summer 2027), Strasburg (fall 2028), Harrisonburg (summer 2032), and Winchester (construction starting in 2028).
According to the official website, the Virginia Department of Transportation manages one of the nation’s largest state highway systems and oversees planning, construction, maintenance, as well as services like highway maintenance and traffic management through systems such as Virginia’s “511” information platform.
VDOT serves as a state agency responsible for building and maintaining roads, bridges, and tunnels throughout Virginia—work that has evolved since its beginnings with the State Highway Commission in 1906 according to its official website. Its headquarters are located at East Broad Street in Richmond.
For further updates about road conditions or travel alerts related to these activities or other projects statewide, VDOT recommends using their “511” service online or via mobile app.
