I-81 South Lane Closure Near Staunton Tuesday Night Through Wednesday Morning

The right lane on Interstate 81 South between Exit 222 and 221 will close from 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, through 7 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, to allow crews to pour concrete on the new bridge over Augusta Woods Drive.

As part of the closure, the on-ramps from Route 250 (Jefferson Highway) to I-81 South will also be closed from 4 p.m. Tuesday through 5:30 a.m. Wednesday. A detour will be in place for Route 250 traffic trying to access I-81 South.

During the interstate lane closure, southbound traffic on I-81 can use Exit 221 to Interstate 64, and all three lanes of I-81 South will remain open just past the Augusta Woods Drive bridge.

The work is part of the ongoing interstate widening project.

All work is weather permitting, and schedules are subject to change.

The Staunton-area widening is being constructed under a $101 million design-build contract, as part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP). The project is scheduled for final completion in summer 2027, but all three northbound lanes are expected to open to traffic in late 2026.

Other major I-81 CIP projects in the VDOT Staunton District include:

• Weyers Cave truck-climbing lanes (scheduled for completion in late 2027)

• Strasburg-area widening (scheduled for completion in fall 2028)

• Harrisonburg-area widening (scheduled for completion in spring 2032)

• Winchester-area widening (construction starts in 2028)

The nearly $4 billion CIP includes 65 construction projects plus operational improvements along I-81 in Virginia to enhance safety, reduce congestion, and unlock the region for further economic growth. Find out more at Improve81.org. The website includes interactive maps, videos, and podcasts, and details about upcoming and current projects.