Southbound I-81 Lane Closure Near Strasburg Expected to Cause Significant Weekend Delays

Motorists traveling south on Interstate 81 near Strasburg should prepare for significant delays this weekend as a continuous lane closure limits traffic to a single lane from Friday night through late Saturday.

The Virginia Department of Transportation said southbound I-81 will be reduced to just the left lane beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, and continuing through at least late Saturday night, Oct. 3.

The closure will affect southbound I-81 between the Interstate 66 off-ramp at Exit 300 and Strasburg’s Exit 298.

The southbound Exit 298 off-ramp to Route 11 will also be closed during the work. Drivers needing to reach Route 11 can use a detour at Exit 296.

VDOT said the right-lane closure is necessary for pavement work and barrier relocation in preparation for an upcoming traffic shift associated with the ongoing I-81 widening project.

Drivers Encouraged to Consider Alternate Routes

Drivers heading south on I-81 may want to use Exit 302 to access Route 11 and return to the interstate at Exit 298.

Motorists traveling west on I-66 and planning to merge onto southbound I-81 are also encouraged to consider alternate routes to avoid anticipated congestion.

All work is weather permitting, and the schedule could change.

Part of Major I-81 Widening Project

The work is part of the ongoing I-81 Corridor Improvement Program project in the Strasburg area, just south of the I-66 junction at Exit 300.

The project is widening I-81 toward the median and includes replacing the interstate bridge over Cedar Creek, widening the bridge over the CSX railway and constructing approximately one mile of sound-barrier wall along northbound I-81 just south of Exit 296 at Route 55.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $58.6 million contract for the project to Shirley Contracting Company LLC of Lorton in October 2024.

Completion is scheduled for fall 2028.

Other major I-81 Corridor Improvement Program projects in VDOT’s Staunton District include truck-climbing lanes near Weyers Cave, scheduled for completion in late 2027; widening in the Staunton area, scheduled for completion in summer 2027; widening in the Harrisonburg area, scheduled for completion in spring 2032; and a Winchester-area widening project where construction is expected to begin in 2028.

The nearly $4 billion I-81 Corridor Improvement Program includes 65 construction projects along with operational improvements intended to improve safety and reduce congestion along the interstate in Virginia.

Motorists can report roadway hazards, make service requests, or obtain additional information through the VDOT Customer Service Center at 800-367-7623.