I-81 to be six lanes near Staunton. Expansion project to be presented to the public

Laura Peters, Staunton News Leader
·2 min read
I-81 cover art
I-81 cover art

STAUNTON — Interstate 81 is expected to be expanded near Staunton and the public will have a chance to hear what it's about this week.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing about the project in Augusta County near Staunton. The meeting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24, in the auditorium of the VDOT Staunton District office at 811 Commerce Road in Staunton.

The project is set to widen I-81 northbound and southbound to three lanes between exit 221 — where the Interstate 64 interchange is — and exit 225 at Va. 262 and Woodrow Wilson Parkway.

According to VDOT, the project addresses current and future capacity needs along that section of I-81.

The project addresses the following:

  • Maintain roadway and bridge safety features

  • Improve operational safety by adding I-81 capacity

  • Improves travel reliability for the public

  • Limits impact to existing access ramps

  • Repairs or replaces deficient bridge components within the project area

The entire project is expected to cost $172.4 million, which includes $13.8 million for preliminary engineering, $2.7 million for right of way and $155.8 million for construction, VDOT said.

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An expected start date for the project was not provided.

The expansion is part of I-81 Corridor Improvement Program, which improves the safety, increases reliability and fosters economic growth along the 325-mile corridor, the release said.

The program was approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in December 2018. The $2 billion package of targeted improvements was funded by the Virginia General Assembly and signed into law in spring 2019, the release said.

The Tuesday meeting will be an open forum where citizens can come in during the meeting hours and discuss the project one-on-one with VDOT officials and designers, the release said.

Written comments can be submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date to:

Mr. Scott Alexander, P.E., Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation at 811 Commerce Road, Staunton, VA 24401-9029.

More information about the I-81 Staunton-area widening is on the VDOT website at virginiadot.org/projects/staunton/interstate-81-staunton-area-widening.asp.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

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Laura Peters is the trending topics reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip on local trends or businesses? Or a good feature? You can reach reporter Laura Peters (she/her) at lpeters@newsleader.com. Follow her @peterslaura. Subscribe to The News Leader at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Interstate 81 to expand to six lanes near Staunton costing millions