As part of the Interstate 81 widening initiative in Roanoke County near Salem, scheduled lane and ramp closures will occur during nighttime hours in early April. These closures are essential for moving a barrier wall and shifting traffic over the bridge at Route 311, exit 140.
Weather permitting, lane reduction for northbound I-81 will start at 8 p.m. on Friday, April 4. The area between mile markers 139 and 141 will have reduced lanes until about 8 a.m. the next day, Saturday, April 5. During this time, the off ramp from northbound I-81 onto Route 311, along with the on ramp from Route 311 to northbound I-81, will be closed.
The same closures are planned the following week for southbound I-81. From 8 p.m. on Friday, April 11, southbound I-81 will be reduced to one lane in the same area until approximately 8 a.m. on Saturday, April 12. The associated ramps from southbound I-81 and Route 311 will also close during this period.
If weather or other scheduling conflicts arise, these closures will be postponed to another Friday and Saturday, outside of holiday travel weekends. Once the barrier wall is moved, traffic on I-81 will shift to a new configuration at the bridge. Though two lanes will remain open, motorists will drive on a different section of the roadway, with a wide left shoulder and a narrower right shoulder.
