STAUNTON– Interstate 81 motorists can expect occasional overnight lane closures and 24/7 shoulder closures starting Monday, May 6, at exit 323 (Route 669 – White Hall) in Frederick County. These traffic restrictions allow the Virginia Department of Transportation to extend the southbound acceleration lane and northbound deceleration lane at this interchange.
Beginning May 6, northbound and southbound right lane closures are possible Monday through Thursday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Concrete barriers will also block the right shoulders of northbound and southbound I-81. Work will take place behind the barriers day and night. Motorists should use extra caution through the work zone and be alert for slow-moving equipment.
At certain stages of construction, overnight on- or off-ramp closures will be required at exit 323. VDOT will provide advance notice of these closures. All work is weather permitting.
Improvements at exit 323 are the first phase of a project that will also bring similar upgrades this year to exit 315 (Route 7 – Winchester/Berryville) in Frederick County and exit 296 (Route 55/48 – Strasburg) in Shenandoah County. The work includes an extension of the northbound deceleration lane at exit 315 and extensions to the northbound acceleration lane and southbound deceleration lane at exit 296.
The I-81 interchange upgrades will improve safety and traffic operations by allowing vehicles to more effectively accelerate with interstate traffic, or slow to exit at the interchange.
On April 19, 2019, VDOT awarded a $1.9 million contract to Kickin’ Asphalt Paving and Excavating LLC of Strasburg, Virginia. The project is scheduled for completion in November 2019. This is a SMART SCALE project.
Virginia traffic alerts and traveler information can be obtained by dialing 511. Traffic alerts and traveler information also are available at http://www.511Virginia.org.