Interstate 81 Harrisonburg-Area Widening (Exit 243 to Exit 247)
Interstate 81 Harrisonburg-Area Widening (Exit 243 to Exit 247)
Benefits
The project is one of a series of corridor improvements to I-81. This project improves safety and traffic flow northbound and southbound on Interstate 81 in the Harrisonburg area by providing an additional travel lane. It will ease existing congestion and provide for future capacity needs.
Public Outreach
The purpose of the project is to address existing and future capacity needs, improve operational safety and reliability, limit impacts to existing access ramps and interchanges, and repair or replace deficient bridge components within the project. Specific improvements include:
- One additional lane northbound and southbound from approximately one mile south of the exit 243 (Route 11) interchange near Pleasant Valley Road to approximately one mile north of the exit 247 (Route 33/East Market Street) interchange.
- Repair, widen and/or replace the existing mainline bridges within the project limits.
- Maintain or improve operational safety with the installation of concrete median barrier and through improved signs and pavement markings.
- Make sensible use of existing pavement and rights-of way to accomplish the capacity improvements.
- Proposed noise barrier installation based on VDOT noise analysis.
In 2019 Route I-81 through Harrisonburg had an average daily traffic count of 58,000 vehicles per day. By the design year of 2047 the estimated average daily traffic volume is 81,300 vehicles per day.
The total estimated cost for this project is $320 million, including $22 million for preliminary engineering, $10.2 million for right of way and $288 million for construction.
I-81 Corridor Improvement Program projects were selected following public input along with a data-based 2018 study of the I-81 corridor in Virginia. The study identified $4 billion of potential improvements with $2.2 billion funded through legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly in 2019 [Chapters 837 and 846 (HB 2718 and SB 1716)]. The I-81 CIP plan was approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in December 2019. The plan is updated annually in December.
More information about I-81 CIP is available at Improve81.org.
Project Schedule
Project plan approval Late 2023
Right of Way Late 2023
Construction advertisement Spring 2025
Project Costs
Preliminary Engineering $22,064,000
Right of Way $10,270,000
Construction $287,682,035
Estimated total cost $320,016,035
Public Meeting
Design Public Hearing
Tuesday, June 28, 2022, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
Comment Deadline
Friday, July 8, 2022
Public Meeting Location
Pleasant Valley Elementary School
215 Pleasant Valley Road
Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Design Public Hearing Materials
- Meeting display: See below tabs - Documents & Materials for displays.
- See links below for videos of project renderings.
- Video Rendering Index
I-81 Flyover - Section A, Harrisonburg Widening
I-81 Flyover - Section B, Harrisonburg Widening
I-81 Flyover - Section C, Harrisonburg Widening
I-81 Flyover - Section D, Harrisonburg Widening
Resources
Contact Information:
Scott Alexander, P.E.
540-332-9030
scott.alexander@vdot.virginia.gov
Project Numbers
State 0081-115-270 P101, R201, C501, B601, B602, B603, B604, B605, B606, B607, B608, B609, D601, D602
Federal NHPP-0813(199)
UPC 116280
Locality: Rockingham County and City of Harrisonburg/Staunton District
Translation assistance: For translation assistance, please call the VDOT Staunton District Civil Rights Office at 540-292-3040. More information on Translation services can be acccessed here.