Graphic courtesy of VDOT
Botetourt County drew new attention to a major Interstate 81 widening project last Friday when it shared a Virginia Department of Transportation press release on its social media channels. The announcement highlighted extensive improvements planned between Exit 143 in Roanoke County and Exit 150 in Botetourt County, a stretch officials say has long struggled with heavy congestion and frequent crashes.
The project calls for adding one lane in each direction within the existing median to expand capacity and reduce delays. VDOT also plans to replace several bridge pairs, including those over Route 1836 (Belle Haven Road), Route 648 (Reservoir Road), Tinker Creek and the Norfolk Southern Railway, and Route 220/Route 220 Alternate. Increasing vertical clearance at the bridge over Route 115 (Plantation Road) is also included and may require a detour during construction.
Significant ramp changes are planned at Exit 150, where two ramps will be realigned and one removed. The southbound I-81 off-ramp will be shifted to meet Route 220 at a new signal on Tinker Mountain Road, and the current southbound I-81 to southbound Route 220 ramp will be eliminated. Drivers heading south will instead use the newly aligned ramp. The ramp from northbound Route 220 onto southbound I-81 will also be realigned to improve traffic movement.
Additional improvements include roughly 8,553 feet of sound barrier along the northbound lanes, the removal of existing concrete pavement between Exits 146 and 150, new interchange lighting at Exits 143, 146, and 150, extended acceleration and deceleration lanes where needed, and new concrete barrier walls in narrow median areas.
The press release emphasized the safety concerns that have driven the project forward. Between 2015 and 2019, this segment of I-81 recorded 662 crashes. Today, it carries between 35,000 and 39,000 vehicles per day, with heavy trucks making up 22 to 23 percent of traffic.
The widening effort is part of the broader Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program, which aims to enhance safety, boost reliability, and support economic growth across the region.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
