The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the City of Lexington have completed improvements to North Main Street, a key route in the city. The project was officially dedicated on August 27.
The upgraded section covers six blocks of North Main Street (Route 11 Business), stretching from Massie Street to Hook Lane. This area serves as the northern entrance to Lexington, passing through the Virginia Military Institute campus and leading toward downtown.
As part of the project, VDOT widened the existing sidewalk on the east side by five feet to meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. On-street parking on the west side was replaced with a four-foot-wide bicycle lane. The work also included replacing underground utilities and improving connections for pedestrians and cyclists to nearby locations such as the Chessie Trail and Washington & Lee University.
VDOT awarded a $3,024,170 contract for construction to North Construction Inc. of Ashburn, Virginia in November 2024. The scheduled completion date was August 4, 2025. More information about these improvements is available on the VDOT project page.
Funding for this initiative came from the Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB), which selected it in June 2017 through SMART SCALE—a process that uses data-driven measures to prioritize transportation projects across Virginia.
VDOT’s Staunton District oversees several counties including Rockbridge County where Lexington is located.
“Strategically located at the intersection of I-81 and I-64, the City of Lexington is a center for higher education, serving as home to the Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University. The City of Lexington is also a tourism mecca because of its commitment to historic preservation, vibrant downtown, museums and cultural attractions, convenient access to the Appalachian Trail and other outdoor recreation destinations, and proximity to the Virginia Horse Center.”
