The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will suspend many highway work zones and lift temporary lane closures on interstates and major roads across the state to help ease holiday travel. The suspension will be in effect from noon on Wednesday, December 24, until noon on Friday, December 26, and again from noon on Wednesday, December 31, until noon on Friday, January 2.
Despite the lifting of most lane closures, drivers may still encounter some semi-permanent work zones. VDOT advises motorists to check its Travel Advisories for up-to-date information about traffic conditions in their area.
VDOT provides several resources to assist travelers. The free mobile 511 app offers details about construction, traffic incidents, congestion, access to traffic cameras, weather updates, and electric vehicle charging stations. By calling 511 within Virginia, users can access hands-free audible alerts for incidents and construction along their route. Additional information is available at 511.vdot.virginia.gov.
Travelers can also consult holiday travel trends maps for December 24-26 and December 31-January 2 periods via the “Holiday Travel” menu at the top of the 511 website. These maps indicate peak congestion periods based on historical data.
For those using express lanes in Northern Virginia, directional schedules for reversible I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes as well as information about I-495 Express Lanes are available at expresslanes.com.
Motorists traveling through Hampton Roads during construction of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project are encouraged to use alternate routes such as the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel or other crossings like the Route 17 James River Bridge and Jamestown-Scotland Ferry to avoid delays. Due to mechanical issues at the Route 17 George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge, delays during bridge openings could last approximately 45-60 minutes.
VDOT reminds travelers to follow safety guidelines: “Buckle up every time and ensure passengers and car seats are secured.” They also advise: “Put your phone down and don’t drive distracted.” Additionally: “If you plan to drink, have a designated driver. If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 911 as soon as it is safe to do so.” Other tips include preparing vehicles for cold weather by checking tire pressure and windshield wiper fluid levels; leaving early; taking breaks if tired at one of more than 40 VDOT rest areas; and obeying the “Move Over” law when approaching vehicles with flashing lights stopped roadside.
VDOT’s role includes building, maintaining and operating Virginia’s roads, bridges and tunnels to support a safe transportation system (official website). The agency manages one of the largest state highway systems in the United States (official website), provides services such as highway maintenance and traffic management through systems like Virginia 511 (official website), oversees planning and construction projects (official website), and has evolved since its origin as the State Highway Commission in 1906 (official website). Its headquarters are located at 1221 East Broad Street in Richmond (official website).