The 2024-29 SYIP removed adding a 3rd lane NB from MM 116 to MM 128, essentially the Christiansburg Mtn descent.
See pdf pg. 164 here - https://www.ctb.virginia.gov/resources/2023/june/ctb_workshop_meeting_june_20_2023.pdf
This is, without question, the most needed section of I-81 that needs to be expanded to 3 lanes. It is a bottleneck, often times with trucks in both lanes climbing at 40-50 mph, dangerous speeds (downhill) and maneuvers for such a narrow cross-section, and carries heavier traffic overall than the rest of I-81.
The entire section between US-460 in Christiansburg and US-220 Alt north of Roanoke needs to be six lanes minimum, if not eight lanes in some areas.
If they’re truly removing this, that is a joke on VDOT’s part and shows that priorities are misplaced. This part should have been widened 20 years ago (with the 6-8 lane statewide P3 toll road) and in many states it already would have been done. The fact VDOT is continuing to push I-81 widening off even more is ridiculous. I’m willing to bet I-81 will still be 4 lanes in 20 more years at this rate, just between Christiansburg and Roanoke alone, not to mention the rest of the state.
The state is pushing almost a billion dollars over the next few years to widen I-64 between Williamsburg and Bottoms Bridge to six lanes, and they can’t pursue any money toward I-81 widening? The project was to be funded through loans… take out a loan for the money, widen the highway, and repay the loan using the increased fuel taxes along the corridor, like was supposed to be originally done. Instead, they increased taxes to give us six years of a dangerous construction zone in Roanoke to get a total of 4 miles of widened highway… fun stuff Virginia.
Correct, because I-64 (like I-95) are areas of much greater priority, as they should be.
I-81 between Christiansburg and Roanoke is a high priority, I would argue, on a similar scale to I-64. The segment carries over 50,000 AADT, 25% truck traffic, and the specific portion between Christiansburg and Ironto has major safety issues with narrow shoulders (left), uphill portions which cause walls of trucks moving at 30-40 mph, and then downhill portions that causes all traffic to move 80+ mph approaching sharper corners. It’s a dangerous portion of highway and is congested. The portion closer to Roanoke has over 60,000 AADT and is congested during peak hours on a daily basis.
I’m not talking about the rest of I-81 here (although it does need to be widened as well). I’m specifically referring to Christiansburg -> Roanoke. It has recurring congestion issues, major safety issues, and seemingly has a major wreck on a daily or weekly basis.
I-64, comparably, has 60,000 AADT and doesn’t have nearly as much of a safety problem due to it being flat. It also doesn’t have the high truck percentages. It’s a priority due to congestion, and is getting addressed finally, but that does not discount I-81. It’s deserving of a minimum of 6 lanes in that ~30 mile stretch, if not 8 lanes.
Southbound was widened around 10 years ago to three lanes, and portions near Roanoke are being widened. Its time northbound is complete over the mountain, and the gap up to Roanoke, along with north of I-581 up to US-220 Alt, is complete to 6 lanes, on the basis of both safety and congestion.
Author
Topic: VA I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan (Read 78497 times)