VA I-81 Corridor Improvement Plan

[Beltway]

Another contract awarded to widen I-81:
https://www.equipmentworld.com/roadbuilding/article/15824635/virginia-dot-awards-237-million-i81-widening-contract

I was out there earlier this year on the section between Staunton and Winchester. Work is moving along well on the 4 projects on that stretch. Staunton, Harrisonburg and Strasburg.

[VTGoose]

I agree from an engineering and construction standpoint, but at AADT 50,000 and 28% large trucks that must create some awful congestion. You live in the area so you would know first time what happened last time.

At least once or twice a week, I-81 turns into a parking lot due to the Wreck of the Day that blocks more than the shoulder or one lane. Then those who are lucky enough to be on the right side of an exit (instead of past it and headed up or down the mountain) clog U.S. 11/460 between Christiansburg and Dixie Caverns. When there is a wreck in the current construction zone at Salem, all bets are off for getting through Salem, even for those who know some of the back ways to avoid most of the traffic.

Given the terrain that the road runs through between Christiansburg and Dixie Caverns, there isn't even a good case for shifting traffic to one lane on the southbound side to avoid some of the blasting zones. If that section is closed for construction, most locals will adjust their plans accordingly and avoid having to travel anywhere near the project.

As an aside, Norfolk Southern sold the Commonwealth the former Virginian Railway trackage from just west of Salem to Merrimac, where the N&W Blacksburg Branch crossed overhead -- just west of the end of Merrimac Tunnel. The plan was to extend Amtrak service to the New River Valley, with a jog up the Blacksburg Branch to a station adjacent to Uptown Christiansburg (former New River Valley Mall). Several factors submarined the project, mainly the expense of making the 1910 Merrimac Tunnel suitable for passenger traffic in the present. There was a suggestion of building a station on the east side of the tunnel. The problem was there was no way to ultimately continue service to Bristol (other than a bizarre plan to tunnel from Merrimac to the N&W west of Christiansburg). The whole project was scuttled when Norfolk Southern agreed to allow passenger service on the N&W line to Christiansburg, with trains turned and serviced in Radford. This keep the door open for eventual extension to Bristol and beyond.

As part of the deal, the Virginian line was sold back to NS and the money invested in purchasing the former Southern line to/through Manassas. This was a mistake by the state, in my opinion, which could have followed through with the plan for the east-of-the-tunnel station and used the line like an interurban between Blacksburg and Roanoke, with heavy- or light-rail trains running on a schedule much like the Smartway Bus that runs between Roanoke and Blacksburg via I-81. That would help alleviate current and future traffic problems on I-81. But they didn't ask me.

Bruce in Blacksburg

[Plutonic Panda]

I wonder how popular a passenger train would be from DC following I-81 hitting the towns and going to Knoxville to Chattanooga to Atlanta. Maybe even extended south to Florida hitting Tallahassee where you can transfer. I wouldn't expect such a line to be high-speed rail, but more like 80-100 miles an hour.

[VTGoose]

I wonder how popular a passenger train would be from DC following I-81 hitting the towns and going to Knoxville to Chattanooga to Atlanta. Maybe even extended south to Florida hitting Tallahassee where you can transfer. I wouldn't expect such a line to be high-speed rail, but more like 80-100 miles an hour.

There is a group that is advocating for eventual extension of the train to Bristol to extend to Knoxville and Chattanooga to end in Atlanta.

[Plutonic Panda]

I wonder how popular a passenger train would be from DC following I-81 hitting the towns and going to Knoxville to Chattanooga to Atlanta. Maybe even extended south to Florida hitting Tallahassee where you can transfer. I wouldn't expect such a line to be high-speed rail, but more like 80-100 miles an hour.

There is a group that is advocating for eventual extension of the train to Bristol to extend to Knoxville and Chattanooga to end in Atlanta.

Nice that seems pretty reasonable.

[Dirt Roads]

I wonder how popular a passenger train would be from DC following I-81 hitting the towns and going to Knoxville to Chattanooga to Atlanta. Maybe even extended south to Florida hitting Tallahassee where you can transfer. I wouldn't expect such a line to be high-speed rail, but more like 80-100 miles an hour.

There is a group that is advocating for eventual extension of the train to Bristol to extend to Knoxville and Chattanooga to end in Atlanta.

Nice that seems pretty reasonable.

Keep in mind that Amtrak's Northeast Regional to Roanoke service parallels US-29 and US-460/US-221, not I-81.  Beyond that, Norfolk Southern's Bristol Line does parallel I-81.

[1995hoo]

Keep in mind that Amtrak's Northeast Regional to Roanoke service parallels US-29 and US-460/US-221, not I-81.  Beyond that, Norfolk Southern's Bristol Line does parallel I-81.

Might be worth noting that it's a long train ride between Roanoke and DC. When I saw your post, I asked Amtrak.com to give me northbound fare quotes on that route for May 13. There are two northbound trains. Both take between five and five and a half hours to make the trip. At least the fares are cheap: $35 for coach seating.

(There are six stops between Roanoke and DC: Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Culpeper, Manassas, Burke Centre, and Alexandria.)