RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will help ease Labor Day holiday weekend traffic by opening lanes that are temporarily closed for construction or maintenance on major roads. In general, lanes will clear from noon Friday, Sept. 1 until noon Tuesday, Sept. 5. Construction zones with concrete barriers and orange barrels may remain in place.

During the busy end-of-summer travel season, it is critical that drivers obey speed limits and pay attention to orange signs in highway work zones. They are there to guide you safely through construction. Speeding in a work zone can result in a $500 fine.

Holiday travelers should also be aware of Highway Safety Corridors on Interstate 81 near Salem, on Interstate 95 near Richmond and on I-95 in Northern Virginia. Motorists who speed, tailgate or drive recklessly in a Highway Safety Corridor can be fined up to $2,500.

VDOT provides several motorist services that can help make holiday travel a bit easier.

Services for Motorists

511 Virginia – Call 511 or visit www.511Virginia.org for information on road conditions and incidents on Virginia’s interstates, 55 major roads, four tunnels and seven bridges. You can also learn about weather, tourist sites, food, lodging and emergency services. Dial (800) 578-4111 if you are outside of Virginia. You can also sign up to receive customized 511 traffic information e-mail alerts at www.511Virginia.org.

VDOT Highway Helpline – Call (800) 367-ROAD to report problems or unsafe conditions on Virginia’s roads. TTY users may call 711 for this information. You can also visit http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/citizen.asp

For other travel information, visit www.VirginiaDOT.org and click on “Road Conditions” to see traffic cameras and a map of road construction and incidents.

Smart Tag/E-ZPass – Virginia’s electronic toll collection system is part of the E-ZPass network. Motorists can use either Smart Tag or E-ZPass at many toll facilities from Virginia to Massachusetts. For details, go to www.EZPassVA.com or call (877) 762-7824.

VDOT Safety Service Patrols – Safety Service Patrollers assist stranded motorists and provide traffic control during crashes and other traffic incidents. The Safety Service Patrol program covers portions of interstates in Northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Roanoke and I-81 at the Rockbridge County, Maury River and Buffalo Creek bridge projects. Recently VDOT launched safety service patrols on I-64 near Charlottesville and will soon launch service on I-81 in the Shenandoah Valley.

Smart Traffic Centers – VDOT operates Smart Traffic Centers in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Staunton and Salem. These centers monitor road conditions using video cameras, road sensors and other technology. Smart Traffic Center operators use this information to warn motorists about traffic back-ups, crashes and other delays using electronic message boards, 511 and highway advisory radio.

Safety Rest Areas – VDOT is in the midst of a $20 million safety rest area and welcome center improvement program across the commonwealth. Three safety rest area and welcome centers will be closed and completely reconstructed by summer 2007. These include the Winchester (I-81 south), Fredericksburg (I-95 south) and New Kent (I-64 west) facilities. The Winchester Welcome Center is currently under construction and closed to traffic.
There are 11 other safety rest areas that will be renovated by the end of December 2006. Renovations are taking place while sites remain open with temporary or portable restroom facilities. Enhancements will include:
• Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades to improve handicapped accessibility
• New toilets, sinks, fixtures and plumbing
• New flooring, walls, windows, doors and lighting
• New electrical, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems
For the latest information about these renovation projects, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/map-rest-area.asp


Major Work Zones and Other Information

Northern Virginia

I-95 — Fairfax County: The Springfield Interchange Improvement Project is under way from Springfield to the Capital Beltway. Visit www.springfieldinterchange.com for details.

I-95/495 — Alexandria: The Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is under way from Telegraph Road in Virginia to the Maryland 210 interchange. The speed limit has been reduced to 50 mph in the 7.5-mile corridor. Visit www.wilsonbridge.com for details.

I-95/395 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes: HOV restrictions are in place on Sept. 1. The HOV lanes will be open northbound from 2 p.m. Sept. 2 until 11 a.m. Sept. 5.

I-95/395 and I-66 HOV lanes: Restrictions are lifted on Sept. 4.


Fredericksburg

Route 33 - King and Queen County in West Point: Improvements continue at the new Lord Delaware Bridge over the Mattaponi River.


Richmond

I-295 flyover (western Henrico County): Expect 11-foot travel lanes and concrete barriers along I-64 east between Route 288 (exit 174) and I-295 (exit 177).

I-64 at Staples Mill Road (bridge over Acca Railroad Yard): Eastbound travel lanes have no lane restrictions. I-64 west will continue to have 11-foot travel lanes between Laburnum Avenue (mile marker 186) and Staples Mill Road (mile marker 185) for bridge widening and rehabilitation.


Hampton Roads

I-64 HOV lanes: On Sept. 4, HOV restrictions will be lifted on I-64. The reversible roadway will be open to westbound traffic from 1 a.m. until 11 a.m., and to eastbound traffic from 1 p.m. until 11 p.m. daily. HOV lanes will resume a normal schedule at 6 a.m. Sept. 5. NOTE: HOV lane directions may shift throughout the holiday weekend, depending on road conditions and traffic volume.

I-64 - Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel: Motorists going to Virginia Beach may want to use the Interstate 664 Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) instead of I-64’s Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. The MMMBT is often less congested.

I-64 – Chesapeake (Exits 289-291): Construction is under way on the Battlefield Boulevard project. While there will be no temporary lane closures over the holiday weekend, motorists should expect delays between Greenbrier Parkway and Battlefield Boulevard. VDOT lifted the HOV restriction on I-64 eastbound from Indian River Road to Battlefield Boulevard. This lane is now open to all vehicles traveling through the project during all travel times. Visit www.i64info.com for the latest information on the project.

Outer Banks: Motorists heading to the Outer Banks may want to take I-664 and the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel to avoid I-64/Battlefield Boulevard construction in Chesapeake.

The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will operate on an extended summer weekend schedule from Sept. 1 to Sept. 4. The normal Fall/Winter/Spring schedule will begin on Sept. 5.


Shenandoah Valley

I-64: Motorists can expect a westbound lane closure from mile marker 0 (West Virginia) to mile marker 7 on Sept. 1 and Sept. 5.


Southwest Virginia

I-77: Expect heavy traffic and possible congestion around Exit 14 (Hillsville/Galax) due to the annual Hillsville Flea Market and Gun Show. Motorists traveling in the region and not attending the event are encouraged to avoid Hillsville.

I-77: Bridges over the New River and Route 52 in Wythe County are being rebuilt. Motorists should slow down through the work zone.

I-77/I-81 overlap: Be alert to the possibility of slowed or stopped traffic in this area of Wythe County due to expected high traffic volumes.

I-77 East River and Big Walker Mountain tunnels: Be alert for delays due to restoration projects at both mountain tunnels.

Page last modified: April 19, 2007