I-81 Improvement Plan

Photo Courtesy Famartin (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board decided to approve the I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan with a $2 billion package of projects for the corridor last year. According to a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) press release in October, the project decision was based on data showing cost, benefits, and preparation for construction.

In addition to the amendments, an I-81 advisory committee has been established to provide advice and recommendations to the Commonwealth Transportation Board regarding the corridor improvements.

The program allocates funds and schedules for projects along the route, which runs through Virginia for 325 miles. As it currently stands, I-81 has at least forty-five crashes per year that take over four hours to clear, according to VDOT data. The Corridor Improvement Program hopes to change that by creating truck climbing lanes, widening the highway, and extending acceleration and deceleration lanes.

“The Commuter Choice Program illustrates the Commonwealth’s commitment to creating safe, reliable travel choices across Virginia’s transportation system,” Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine said. “Multimodal investments along this corridor support the Commonwealth’s economic competitiveness and create a more seamless network for people to access jobs, education, health care and opportunity.”

​VDOT projects that these improvements will lower the number of crashes and reduce hours of delay on the highway significantly.