| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Tamara Neale 804-786-6458 Tamara.Neale@VDOT.Virginia.gov |
CO-0625 May 23, 2006 |
MEMORIAL DAY TRAVEL UPDATE
Temporary lane closures lifted over the holiday weekend
RICHMOND, May 23, 2006 – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will help ease holiday traffic over the Memorial Day weekend by opening lanes that are temporarily closed for construction or maintenance work on major roadways. In general, lanes will clear from noon Friday, May 26 until noon Tuesday, May 30. Construction zones with concrete barriers and orange barrels will remain set up.
With the kick-off of the summer travel season, it is critical that motorists obey the posted speed limits and pay attention to the orange signs in the highway work zones throughout Virginia. They are posted to guide drivers safely through construction. The fine for speeding in a work zone can be $500.
Motorists should also be aware of the Highway Safety Corridors on a section of I-81 in Salem and on stretches of I-95 in the Richmond region and Northern Virginia. Motorists who speed, tailgate or drive recklessly on these interstate sections could be fined up to $2,500.
The following lists services for motorists:
511 Virginia – Call 511 or visit www.511Virginia.org for information on current driving conditions and incidents on Virginia’s interstates and other major roadways, weather, regional tourist sites, food, lodging and emergency services. Callers outside of Virginia can reach 511 by dialing 1-800-578-4111. You also can receive email alerts on selected roadways of your choice by creating an account online.
VDOT Highway Helpline – Call 1-800-367-ROAD to report problems or unsafe conditions on Virginia’s roadways. On the Internet go to www.VirginiaDOT.org. The direct link to report problems is http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel/citizen.asp.
Other travel information – Go to www.VirginiaDOT.org. The direct link to road condition information is
http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel/citizen.asp. The link will take you to a map of road construction, incidents and traffic cameras.
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 on many toll facilities from Virginia to Massachusetts. For more information, go to www.EZPassVA.com or call 1-877-762-7824.
VDOT Safety Service Patrols – They respond to traffic crashes and help provide traffic control. To aid stranded motorists, Safety Service Patrols provide basic automobile repair and first aid. The patrols operate on major highways in the Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads and Salem regions.
Smart Traffic Centers – VDOT operates Smart Traffic Centers in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Staunton and Salem. These centers monitor road conditions with the help of video cameras located above busy highway corridors. The Smart Traffic Centers warn motorists about traffic back-ups, crashes and other adverse road conditions through electronic message boards and highway advisory radio.
Major work zones and other traveler information:
Northern Virginia
I-95 - Fairfax County: Springfield Interchange Improvement Project is under construction from Springfield to the Capital Beltway. Visit www.springfieldinterchange.com for more information on the project.
I-95/495 - Alexandria: Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is under construction between Telegraph Road in Virginia to the MD 210 Interchange. The speed limit has been lowered to 50 MPH throughout the 7.5-mile project corridor. Visit www.wilsonbridge.com for more information on the project.
I-95/395 HOV lanes: Will remain open in the southbound direction from noon Friday until
6 a.m. Sunday. The HOV lanes will be open for northbound traffic from 6 a.m. Sunday until 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Fredericksburg
Route 33 - King and Queen County in the town of West Point: Improvements continue for the new Lord Delaware Bridge over the Mattaponi River.
Richmond
I-64 - Henrico County: Motorists can expect 11-foot travel lanes between Staples Mill Road and Laburnum Avenue as VDOT rehabilitates the I-64 bridge over the ACCA Railroad Switching Yard. In addition, travelers from I-195 north to I-64 west are restricted from exiting at Staples Mill Road.
I-64 at I-295 - Henrico County: Motorists can expect new construction signage and pavement markings. All lanes will be open to traffic.
Hampton Roads
I-64- HOV lanes: On Memorial Day, HOV restrictions will be lifted on I-64. The reversible roadway will be open to all westbound traffic from 1 a.m. until 11 a.m. and then to all eastbound traffic from 1 p.m. until 11 pm. HOV lanes will resume a normal schedule at 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30. NOTE: The HOV lane directions may shift throughout Memorial Day weekend depending on roadway conditions and traffic volumes.
I-64 - Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel: Motorists traveling to Virginia Beach may want to use the I-664 Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel (MMMBT) as an alternative to I-64’s Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. The MMMBT is less traveled than the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.
I-64 – Chesapeake (Exits 289-291): Construction is currently underway on the Battlefield Boulevard project. While there will be no temporary lane closures over the holiday weekend, motorists should expect general construction delays between Greenbrier Parkway and Battlefield Boulevard. VDOT lifted the HOV restriction on I-64 eastbound from the Indian River Road exit through the Battlefield Boulevard exit. This lane is now open to all vehicles during all travel time periods throughout the project. Motorists can visit www.i64info.com for the latest information on the project.
Outer Banks: Motorists traveling to the Outer Banks may want to take I-664 and the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel to save time and avoid the construction at Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake.
Route 164 East - Portsmouth: Traffic will be detoured off of a small portion of Route 164 East until December 2006 for the construction of a new interchange near the APM Terminal in Portsmouth.
Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will operate on its normal schedule.
Shenandoah Valley
I-64 bridges - Alleghany County: Various bridges will be painted with lane closures possible.
I-81 Buffalo Creek Bridges - Rockbridge County: Right shoulder closure.
I-81 Maury River Bridges - Rockbridge County: Be alert for new traffic patterns. The Maury River Bridge replacement project is scheduled for completion in July 2006.
I-81 Virginia Welcome Center at Clear Brook - Frederick County: The welcome center is closed and relocated in the Winchester Old Town historic mall area. The rest room facilities are closed. The welcome center and rest room facilities are being rebuilt with the reopening scheduled for spring 2007.
Southwest Virginia
Route 460 Bridges - Giles County: Bridge repairs have reduced westbound Route 460 to one lane at two locations. The first bridge crosses Sinking Creek in Maybrook. The second bridge spans the New River about a mile west of Pearisburg.
I-77 - Wythe County: Bridges over the New River and Route 52 are being rebuilt. Motorists should be prepared to slow down through the work zone.
I-77/I-81 overlap - Wythe County: Due to high traffic volumes expected over the holiday weekend, be alert to the possibility of slowed or stopped traffic in this area.
I-77 East River and Big Walker Mountain tunnels: Be alert to the possibility of delays due to restoration projects at both mountain tunnels on I-77.
South-central Virginia
Routes 29 & 60 - Amherst County: Bridge replacement with a
With the kick-off of the summer travel season, it is critical that motorists obey the posted speed limits and pay attention to the orange signs in the highway work zones throughout Virginia. They are posted to guide drivers safely through construction. The fine for speeding in a work zone can be $500.
Motorists should also be aware of the Highway Safety Corridors on a section of I-81 in Salem and on stretches of I-95 in the Richmond region and Northern Virginia. Motorists who speed, tailgate or drive recklessly on these interstate sections could be fined up to $2,500.
The following lists services for motorists:
511 Virginia – Call 511 or visit www.511Virginia.org for information on current driving conditions and incidents on Virginia’s interstates and other major roadways, weather, regional tourist sites, food, lodging and emergency services. Callers outside of Virginia can reach 511 by dialing 1-800-578-4111. You also can receive email alerts on selected roadways of your choice by creating an account online.
VDOT Highway Helpline – Call 1-800-367-ROAD to report problems or unsafe conditions on Virginia’s roadways. On the Internet go to www.VirginiaDOT.org. The direct link to report problems is http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel/citizen.asp.
Other travel information – Go to www.VirginiaDOT.org. The direct link to road condition information is
http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/travel/citizen.asp. The link will take you to a map of road construction, incidents and traffic cameras.
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 on many toll facilities from Virginia to Massachusetts. For more information, go to www.EZPassVA.com or call 1-877-762-7824.
VDOT Safety Service Patrols – They respond to traffic crashes and help provide traffic control. To aid stranded motorists, Safety Service Patrols provide basic automobile repair and first aid. The patrols operate on major highways in the Northern Virginia, Fredericksburg, Hampton Roads and Salem regions.
Smart Traffic Centers – VDOT operates Smart Traffic Centers in Northern Virginia, Richmond, Hampton Roads, Staunton and Salem. These centers monitor road conditions with the help of video cameras located above busy highway corridors. The Smart Traffic Centers warn motorists about traffic back-ups, crashes and other adverse road conditions through electronic message boards and highway advisory radio.
Major work zones and other traveler information:
Northern Virginia
I-95 - Fairfax County: Springfield Interchange Improvement Project is under construction from Springfield to the Capital Beltway. Visit www.springfieldinterchange.com for more information on the project.
I-95/495 - Alexandria: Woodrow Wilson Bridge Project is under construction between Telegraph Road in Virginia to the MD 210 Interchange. The speed limit has been lowered to 50 MPH throughout the 7.5-mile project corridor. Visit www.wilsonbridge.com for more information on the project.
I-95/395 HOV lanes: Will remain open in the southbound direction from noon Friday until
6 a.m. Sunday. The HOV lanes will be open for northbound traffic from 6 a.m. Sunday until 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Fredericksburg
Route 33 - King and Queen County in the town of West Point: Improvements continue for the new Lord Delaware Bridge over the Mattaponi River.
Richmond
I-64 - Henrico County: Motorists can expect 11-foot travel lanes between Staples Mill Road and Laburnum Avenue as VDOT rehabilitates the I-64 bridge over the ACCA Railroad Switching Yard. In addition, travelers from I-195 north to I-64 west are restricted from exiting at Staples Mill Road.
I-64 at I-295 - Henrico County: Motorists can expect new construction signage and pavement markings. All lanes will be open to traffic.
Hampton Roads
I-64- HOV lanes: On Memorial Day, HOV restrictions will be lifted on I-64. The reversible roadway will be open to all westbound traffic from 1 a.m. until 11 a.m. and then to all eastbound traffic from 1 p.m. until 11 pm. HOV lanes will resume a normal schedule at 6 a.m. Tuesday, May 30. NOTE: The HOV lane directions may shift throughout Memorial Day weekend depending on roadway conditions and traffic volumes.
I-64 - Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel: Motorists traveling to Virginia Beach may want to use the I-664 Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel (MMMBT) as an alternative to I-64’s Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. The MMMBT is less traveled than the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.
I-64 – Chesapeake (Exits 289-291): Construction is currently underway on the Battlefield Boulevard project. While there will be no temporary lane closures over the holiday weekend, motorists should expect general construction delays between Greenbrier Parkway and Battlefield Boulevard. VDOT lifted the HOV restriction on I-64 eastbound from the Indian River Road exit through the Battlefield Boulevard exit. This lane is now open to all vehicles during all travel time periods throughout the project. Motorists can visit www.i64info.com for the latest information on the project.
Outer Banks: Motorists traveling to the Outer Banks may want to take I-664 and the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel to save time and avoid the construction at Battlefield Boulevard in Chesapeake.
Route 164 East - Portsmouth: Traffic will be detoured off of a small portion of Route 164 East until December 2006 for the construction of a new interchange near the APM Terminal in Portsmouth.
Jamestown-Scotland Ferry will operate on its normal schedule.
Shenandoah Valley
I-64 bridges - Alleghany County: Various bridges will be painted with lane closures possible.
I-81 Buffalo Creek Bridges - Rockbridge County: Right shoulder closure.
I-81 Maury River Bridges - Rockbridge County: Be alert for new traffic patterns. The Maury River Bridge replacement project is scheduled for completion in July 2006.
I-81 Virginia Welcome Center at Clear Brook - Frederick County: The welcome center is closed and relocated in the Winchester Old Town historic mall area. The rest room facilities are closed. The welcome center and rest room facilities are being rebuilt with the reopening scheduled for spring 2007.
Southwest Virginia
Route 460 Bridges - Giles County: Bridge repairs have reduced westbound Route 460 to one lane at two locations. The first bridge crosses Sinking Creek in Maybrook. The second bridge spans the New River about a mile west of Pearisburg.
I-77 - Wythe County: Bridges over the New River and Route 52 are being rebuilt. Motorists should be prepared to slow down through the work zone.
I-77/I-81 overlap - Wythe County: Due to high traffic volumes expected over the holiday weekend, be alert to the possibility of slowed or stopped traffic in this area.
I-77 East River and Big Walker Mountain tunnels: Be alert to the possibility of delays due to restoration projects at both mountain tunnels on I-77.
South-central Virginia
Routes 29 & 60 - Amherst County: Bridge replacement with a
Page last modified: April 2, 2007
