The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has released its weekly update on highway construction and maintenance projects in southwestern Virginia, aiming to keep motorists informed. Travelers are advised to exercise caution when passing through work zones and be aware of changes in traffic patterns as well as slow-moving or stopped traffic.
VDOT encourages drivers to utilize their 511 service or visit the website for real-time traffic updates.
Several major interstate projects are currently underway. On Interstate 81, widening efforts are taking place between exits 10 and 7 in Washington County, with completion expected by November 2025. The City of Bristol is working on widening a portion of Route 11 at exit 5, targeting a May 2026 completion date. In Wythe County, deceleration lane extensions at exit 81 and auxiliary lane construction between exits 73 and 72 are scheduled to finish by October 2025 and Fall 2026, respectively.
Interstate 77 also sees significant activity. A bridge replacement at exit 62 over Route 606 in Bland County is set for late-2025 completion. Additionally, a truck climbing lane from mile marker 30.6 to exit 32 in Wythe County is projected to complete by June 2026.
Updates have been provided regarding maintenance activities on Interstates 81 and 77:
“Be alert to the following lane closures due to interstate maintenance activities.”
In Buchanan County, bridge construction on Route 646 over Left Fork continues with an October 2025 target finish date. The Poplar Creek Phase A project affects Route 460/121 with permanent changes anticipated.
For Dickenson County, repairs on the Route 619 bridge over Pound River involve temporary signals controlling one-way traffic until November 2025. The Route 63 bridge replacement in Haysi is ongoing with an April 2026 completion date.
Scott County’s intersection improvements at Route 23/58 aim for June 2026 completion, while Tazewell County’s new Route 61 bridge over Cove Creek will see controlled one-way traffic starting mid-July until September next year.
Wise County’s safety improvements on Route 23 near Indian Mountain Trade Center focus on turn lanes and median crossover removal with December this year as the target finish.
Finally, Wythe County is developing a new connector road between Nye Road and E. Lee Trinkle Road as part of the Progress Park Connector/I-77 Exit project, expected to conclude by November next year.
