The Virginia Department of Transportation announced on April 15 that southbound Interstate 81 will be closed in the Staunton area from 8 p.m. Saturday, April 18, through 7 a.m. Sunday, April 19. The closure is required for contractors to set up a new traffic pattern as part of an ongoing interstate widening project.
The closure affects drivers traveling southbound on I-81, who will be detoured at exit 225 onto Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) around Staunton and rejoin the interstate at exit 220. Those needing access to eastbound Interstate 64 should also use this detour and then follow signs to reach their destination. The on-ramp from Route 262 onto southbound I-81 at exit 225 will be closed during this time, but the ramp from Route 250 (Jefferson Highway) at exit 222 remains open.
Digital message boards are in place to alert motorists about the closure and direct them along the green-and-white “Emergency Route A” signs through the detour route. When I-81 southbound reopens Sunday morning, drivers will notice a shift toward the median before exit 225 and then back right near mile marker 224 just before the Route 254 overpass bridge. This temporary pattern is expected to last several months while phase-two widening work continues.
This roadwork supports phase-two construction on widening the southbound bridge over Lewis Creek as part of a larger project adding a third lane in both directions between exits 221 and 225. The $101 million design-build contract forms part of Virginia’s nearly $4 billion I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP), which includes projects such as Weyers Cave truck-climbing lanes, Strasburg-area widening, Harrisonburg-area widening starting spring next year, and Winchester-area improvements beginning in future years.
According to the official website, Virginia Department of Transportation manages one of America’s largest state highway systems with tens of thousands of lane-miles across Virginia and focuses on building, maintaining and operating roads, bridges and tunnels for safe travel. The agency also provides services like highway maintenance and traffic management through tools such as Virginia’s real-time information system.
Virginia Department of Transportation developed from its origins as a State Highway Commission in early twentieth century Richmond—where its headquarters remain—to oversee planning, construction and maintenance statewide according to VDOT. Motorists can find more details about current projects or report roadway concerns by visiting VDOT’s website or contacting their Customer Service Center.
