Motorists in southwestern Virginia can expect several ongoing and upcoming road construction and maintenance projects, according to the latest weekly update from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for October 27 through November 2, 2025.
The report outlines numerous projects affecting both interstate highways and primary or high-traffic secondary roads. VDOT advises drivers to use caution in work zones, be alert to changes in traffic patterns, and expect possible delays due to lane closures or detours.
For real-time travel information, motorists are encouraged to call VDOT’s 511 or visit https://511.vdot.virginia.gov.
Interstate 81 will see rolling road blocks between exits 73 and 77 in Wythe County as crews conduct bridge painting. Southbound blocks are scheduled for late Sunday night into early Monday morning, while northbound blocks will occur late Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. The work is expected to finish by October 29.
Bridge rehabilitation continues on I-81 southbound near exit 3 in Bristol, with lane closures expected until late 2025. In Smyth County near exit 45, repairs have led to additional lane closures and a closed southbound on-ramp; this project is set for completion by October 24.
A widening project on I-81 southbound between exits 10 and 7 in Washington County is underway and will extend through November 2025. The City of Bristol is also working on widening Route 11 and improving off-ramps at exit 5, targeting completion by May 2026. Further improvements include constructing an auxiliary lane southbound between exits 73 and 72 in Wythe County (completion fall 2026), and building a truck climbing lane on I-77 northbound from mile marker 30.6 to exit 32 (completion June 2026).
Maintenance activities may cause periodic lane closures on both I-81 and I-77 during this period. A super load will travel along I-81 northbound from Bristol to the Virginia/West Virginia state line between October 27 and November 1. On I-77, nighttime tunnel maintenance will affect wide loads at Big Walker Mountain Tunnel, while a super load travels southbound from the West Virginia/Virginia border to North Carolina over the same dates.
On primary highways:
In Bland County, Route 608 (Skydusky Road) remains closed for bridge replacement until August 2026.
Buchanan County’s Route 645 (Old Rocklick Road) will close for railroad crossing replacement from October 27 through November 1; Route 700 serves as a detour.
Route 460 at Grundy features new traffic patterns due to Poplar Creek Phase B construction.
Dickenson County has ongoing repairs on Route 619 (Skeetrock Road) bridge using temporary signals until November 2025, plus a bridge replacement project on Route 63 in Haysi continuing into April 2026.
Scott County’s intersection improvement at Route 23/58 includes added turn lanes and signal relocations at Duffield with anticipated completion by June 2026.
Tazewell County has two major bridge replacements: one over Cove Creek with restricted width until September 2026, another closing Front Street bridge over Clinch River in Richlands with detours provided through April 2026.
In Washington County, part of Route 748 (Clinchburg Road) is closed due to structural concerns with a Salt Trail trestle overhead.
Wise County’s Route 613 (East Stone Gap Road) bridge improvements continue until November 2025.
Wythe County sees progress on a new connector road between Nye Road and E. Lee Trinkle Road for access to Progress Park industrial site; related portions of Lover’s Lane remain closed through November 2026. Additionally, the Route 671 (Crigger Road) bridge faces restrictions ahead of planned replacement starting October 2026.
VDOT reminds all travelers: “When traveling through highway work zones, use caution and be alert to changes in traffic patterns and slow-moving or stopped traffic.”
