The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in partnership with the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment (OIPI) and the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), is conducting Round 3 public outreach for the Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Plan (CIP). This final phase will present refined solutions that have been prioritized using a SMART SCALE-like process for the entire 325-mile I-81 corridor in Virginia. With the widening project through Harrisonburg between Exits 243 and 247 already slated, this study will help determine what additional improvements are needed to enhance safety and reduce congestion along the corridor
The study builds on the 2018 CIP, which identified 65 construction projects worth approximately $3 billion that are now completed or in development. This 2025 effort focuses on segments with the highest crash rates and severity or the most significant traffic delays, excluding areas where recent widenings or truck-climbing lanes have been completed or are currently under development.
Staunton District Meeting
Date: Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Time: 5-7 p.m.
Location: Blue Ridge Community College, Robert E. Plecker Workforce Center, One College Lane, Weyers Cave, VA 24486
Community input is essential for developing a corridor plan that effectively addresses current and future transportation needs on I-81. Residents, businesses, motorists, and other stakeholders are encouraged to attend the public meeting or participate through the upcoming online survey. You can do so through attending the October 29 public meeting at Blue Ridge Community College, completeing the virtual survey (which will be available here: https://improve81.vdot.virginia.gov/get-involved/2025-cip-update/) or contacting VDOT CIP Project email: va81CorridorPlan@vdot.virginia.gov and contacting VDOT Project Manager Rob Williams at 804-371-4868
Learn more about the efforts to Improve I-81 and the ongoing 2025 Corridor Improvement Plan Study at www.Improve81.org.