The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), together with design-build contractor Branch Civil Inc., will hold a public information meeting on January 22 to discuss construction impacts and traffic management for the Interstate 81 widening project in Roanoke and Botetourt counties.
The event is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lord Botetourt High School in Daleville, with presentations at 5:15 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Representatives will be available to answer questions and provide information about the project.
Interstate 81 will be expanded by adding one lane in each direction between exits 143 and 150. The work also includes replacing bridges over eight crossings, installing more than 1.5 miles of sound barrier along the northbound lanes, realigning two ramps at exit 150, and removing one ramp. These improvements are intended to reduce crashes, lessen delays, and enhance crash response times.
“This widening project is part of the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP), which aims to improve safety, increase reliability and foster economic growth,” according to VDOT. “The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $361 million design-build contract for this project in July 2024. Construction started in summer 2025 and is expected to finish in summer 2031.”
VDOT is responsible for planning, building, and maintaining transportation infrastructure across Virginia, including roads, bridges, and tunnels. It manages one of the largest state-maintained highway systems in the United States and provides services such as traffic management through programs like Virginia 511 (official website). The agency operates from its headquarters at 1221 East Broad Street in Richmond.