The Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Mar. 26 that the northbound exit 17 on ramp to Interstate 81 in Bristol will be closed overnight Wednesday, April 1, for bridge repairs. Drivers are also advised to expect overnight lane closures on I-81 during this period.
The closure is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday and continue until approximately 5 a.m. Thursday, April 2. Motorists are encouraged to plan accordingly and stay alert for changing traffic patterns while work is underway.
According to the official website, the purpose of Virginia Department of Transportation centers on building, maintaining and operating Virginia’s roads, bridges and tunnels to support a safe and efficient transportation system. The agency manages one of the nation’s largest state highway systems, covering tens of thousands of lane-miles across Virginia according to the official website.
Virginia Department of Transportation provides services such as highway maintenance, traffic management through systems like Virginia 511 and oversight of land-use permits along state routes according to the official website. The department serves as a state agency overseeing the planning, construction and maintenance of Virginia’s road, bridge and tunnel systems according to the official website.
According to the official website, VDOT developed from the 1906 State Highway Commission through various iterations to manage Virginia’s expanding transportation infrastructure. The agency has its headquarters at 1221 East Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia according to its official website.
The planned closure highlights ongoing efforts by VDOT to maintain infrastructure safety across major travel corridors.
