The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has announced a schedule change for bridge work on Interstate 81 southbound at mile marker 269 in Shenandoah County. The work, initially planned for earlier dates, will now take place from Sunday, May 11 at 10 a.m. through Monday night, May 12. This change is due to forecasted inclement weather and the work may extend into Tuesday if necessary.
The project involves critical rehabilitation of the bridge deck over the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, located just south of exit 269 near Shenandoah Caverns. This area is north of New Market in Shenandoah County. VDOT plans continuous single lane closures over approximately 72 hours starting Sunday morning to ensure around-the-clock progress.
During this period, trucks with wide loads will need to find alternate routes as they will not be allowed through the work zone. The Virginia State Police and law enforcement from the Town of New Market will manage traffic within the area.
“Left lane closed: Sunday, May 11, 10 a.m. to Monday night,” VDOT stated regarding specific lane closures. Depending on conditions and temperatures, these closures could continue into Tuesday morning.
VDOT emphasizes that “the bridge concrete work must be completed within a specific temperature range to ensure the quality and durability of the repair.” The timing aims to maximize repair progress before holiday and summer vacation traffic increases.
Prior repairs on the right lane were completed successfully by noon on Tuesday, May 6 after beginning on Sunday evening, May 4. Motorists are advised that there might be differences in lane height until all repairs are finished.
Following May 20, any remaining work will occur during warmer nighttime hours to avoid further daytime disruptions. Future announcements regarding similar efforts for northbound lanes are expected soon.
Both I-81 bridges over this section have undergone temporary patching previously but require permanent solutions as they near their service life end. Funding for these permanent repairs became available in spring 2025.
The Staunton District oversees about 2,400 major structures including bridges and box culverts along with roughly 942 miles of I-81 lanes.
For ongoing updates about this project or other travel information across Virginia’s roads visit VDOT’s website or call their Customer Service Center at any time.
