STAUNTON – November 2026 will mark a major milestone in the widening of Interstate 81 in the Staunton area. A third northbound lane is scheduled to fully open to traffic during the week of Nov. 9–13, 2026, between exit 222 (Route 250) and exit 225 (Route 262).
Contractors for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) began construction on the I-81 northbound and southbound widening in fall 2023, with a final completion date of summer 2027. The project includes the widening of five bridges – four on I-81 South and one on I-81 North.
Work continues in both directions of the interstate to include bridge construction, final paving and striping, and installation of guardrail and signs. Be alert for shoulder closures, traffic-pattern shifts and overnight single-lane closures. Northbound and southbound I-81 continue to have a work-zone speed limit of 60 miles an hour.
All work is weather permitting, and schedules are subject to change.
The Staunton-area widening is being constructed under a $101 million design-build contract, as part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP). Other major I-81 CIP projects in the VDOT Staunton District include:
Weyers Cave truck-climbing lanes (scheduled for completion in late 2027)
Strasburg-area southbound widening (scheduled for completion in fall 2028)
Harrisonburg-area widening (scheduled for completion in spring 2032)
Winchester-area widening (construction starts in 2028)
Rockbridge County southbound widening (construction starts in 2028)
The nearly $4 billion I-81 CIP includes 65 construction projects and traffic-operations improvements to enhance safety, reduce congestion and unlock the corridor for further economic growth. Find out more at Improve81.org. The website includes interactive maps, construction cameras, and details about upcoming and current projects.
The VDOT Customer Service Center operates 24/7 to help roadway users report potential hazards, make service requests or get information related to Virginia’s transportation network. Use its mobile friendly website or call 800-367-7623.
The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.
This content is sourced from
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT)
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
