As work continues on the widening of Interstate 81 between exits 143 in Roanoke County and exit 150 in Botetourt County, drivers are being advised to expect ongoing shoulder closures during the winter months. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced that installation of barrier walls on the shoulders will continue, with more extensive installation scheduled for next year.
Initial efforts on the project began in summer 2025 and have included nighttime lane closures while crews strengthen and widen shoulders along the construction zone. These activities are in preparation for shifting traffic to the right shoulder so work can begin in the median. In November, southbound traffic was shifted onto the right shoulder from exit 150 in Botetourt County to exit 146 in Roanoke County. Nighttime lane closures may persist through winter.
VDOT, together with design-build contractor Branch Civil Inc., plans to hold a public information meeting at Lord Botetourt High School in January before major construction resumes next spring and summer. The meeting will provide details about upcoming construction impacts and traffic management strategies for motorists traveling through Roanoke and Botetourt counties.
The project scope includes replacing eight bridges along I-81, installing over 8,500 feet of sound barriers on northbound lanes, realigning two ramps at exit 150, and removing one ramp. According to VDOT, these improvements aim “to reduce crashes, lessen delays and enhance crash response times.”
The widening effort is part of the larger Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP), which is designed to improve safety, increase reliability, and support economic growth along this major transportation route. The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $361 million design-build contract for this section of I-81 in July 2024. Construction began in summer 2025 and is projected to be completed by summer 2031.