The Shadow
STAUNTON (VR) – Nearly two weeks of overnight on- and off-ramp closures are scheduled for Interstate 81 exit 205 (Raphine/Steeles Tavern) in Rockbridge County. The nightly ramp closures are from Monday night, August 22, through early Friday morning, September 2. Overnight flagger traffic control is also scheduled for Route 606 (Raphine Road) in the area of the I-81 interchange. These traffic restrictions are for final paving and other work related to a $4.7 million interchange improvement project.
Monday through Wednesday nights, August 22-24, the exit 205 southbound on- and off-ramps at Route 606 will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning. These closures are for milling and paving.
Work will take place first on the off-ramp, allowing it to reopen as crews transition to the on-ramp.
Southbound I-81 motorists who need to access Route 606 will detour at exit 213 (Greenville/Stuarts Draft), and take Route 11 (Lee-Jackson Highway) south to Route 606.
Route 606 motorists who need to access southbound I-81 will go east on Route 606 to Route 11, then follow Route 11 south and Route 710 (Sterrett Road) west to the I-81 interchange at exit 200 (Fairfield).
Beginning Thursday night, August 25, and continuing through the night of Thursday, September 1, the exit 205 northbound on- and off-ramps at Route 606 will be closed nightly from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. the following morning. These closures are for removal of concrete barriers, milling and paving, and installation of guardrail.
Work will take place first on the off-ramp, allowing it to reopen as crews transition to the on-ramp.
Northbound I-81 motorists who need to access Route 606 will detour at exit 200 (Fairfield), follow Route 710 (Sterrett Road) east and then Route 11 (Lee-Jackson Highway) north to Route 606.
Route 606 motorists who need to access northbound I-81 will go east on Route 606 to Route 11, then follow Route 11 north to the I-81 interchange at exit 213 (Greenville/Stuarts Draft).
Beginning on or about Tuesday, August 30, Route 606 will have flagger traffic control for milling and paving. These operations are scheduled from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m., and should be complete by the morning of September 2.
Digital message signs will guide motorists on detour routes. Virginia State Police will help enforce the overnight ramp closures. All work is weather permitting.
Improvements to I-81 exit 205 and Route 606 are designed to reduce traffic congestion and enhance safety. Virginia’s SMART SCALE program and the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program fund the project. It includes ramp extensions, turn lanes, shoulder widening and turning-radius improvements.
In July 2021, VDOT awarded a $4,695,094.60 contract to A & J Development and Excavation Inc. of Mount Crawford, Va. The project is scheduled for completion in October 2022. Additional information about the I-81 Exit 205 project is found on the VDOT website at: https://www.virginiadot.org/ projects/staunton/rockbridge_ county_-_route_606_at_i-81_ exit_205.asp.
Virginia traffic alerts and traveler information are available by dialing 511 or visiting http://www.511Virginia.org.
The VDOT Customer Service Center can assist with reporting road hazards, asking transportation questions, or getting information related to Virginia’s roads. Call 800-FOR- ROAD (800-367-7623) or use its mobile friendly website at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov/. Agents are available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week.
The Staunton District Twitter feed is at @VaDOTStaunton. VDOT can be followed on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. RSS feeds are also available for statewide information. The VDOT Web page is located at http://www.VirginiaDOT.org.
The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.
