The Shadow
STAUNTON (VR) – The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a design public hearing concerning the construction of truck climbing lanes on Interstate 81 in Augusta and Rockingham counties. The project also includes interchange improvements at exit 235 (Route 256/Weyers Cave Road). The meeting will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27, at Blue Ridge Community College, Plecker Center for Continuing Education, One College Lane, Weyers Cave, VA 24486.
This will be an open-forum public hearing. Citizens can come in during the meeting hours and discuss the project on a one-on-one basis with VDOT officials and designers. Written comments can be submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date to Jennifer Hoover, P.E., Project Manager. Virginia Department of Transportation, 811 Commerce Road, Staunton, VA 24401-9029. Oral comments can be recorded at the meeting with the assistance of a court reporter.
This project adds a third lane to northbound I-81 from mile marker 234.1 to 237.7, and southbound I-81 from mile marker 237.9 to 234.2. It also includes improvements at the interchange of I-81 and Route 256 (Weyers Cave Road) at exit 235.
Additional information about the Weyers Cave truck climbing lanes project is on the VDOT website at: https://www.virginiadot.org/projects/staunton/interstate-81-weyers-cave-truck-climbing-lanes-and-exit-235-improvements.asp. This page also has links to a new video and podcast, public-meeting materials and online project surveys.
The total estimated cost for this project is $127.2 million, including $10.8 million for preliminary engineering, $1.6 million for right of way and $114.9 million for construction.
The project is part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP), which aims to improve safety, increase reliability and foster economic growth along the 325-mile corridor. The I-81 CIP was approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in December 2018. The $2 billion package of targeted improvements was funded by the Virginia General Assembly and signed into law in spring 2019. More information about the program is available at Improve81.org.
The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.
The Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton. Follow VDOT on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located at www.VirginiaDOT.org.
Obtain traffic alerts and traveler information by dialing 511 or visiting 511Virginia.org. For other assistance, call the VDOT Customer Service Center, available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR- ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia’s roads.
