RICHMOND – Holiday gifts for motorists from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will come in the form of work zones temporarily suspended on major projects. This should allow travelers fewer delays as they make their way to Christmas and New Year’s destinations across the commonwealth.
In general, short-term lane closures for construction and maintenance projects will be lifted from 6 a.m. Dec. 23 until 6 a.m. Dec. 27 and again from 6 a.m. Dec. 30 until 6 a.m. Jan. 3. Construction zones with concrete barriers and orange barrels will remain set up.
Motorists are urged to obey the posted speed limits and pay attention to orange signs in work zones throughout Virginia. They’re posted to guide drivers safely through work zones.
In Virginia last year, 14 people died in crashes in highway work zones. Nationally, four out of five persons killed in work zone crashes are motorists. Reckless driving was the top offense charged to motorists in Virginia’s work zones last year. The fine for speeding in a work zone can be $500.

The following lists services for motorists:

511 Travel Information Service - Dial 511 or visit www.511Virginia.org for information on driving conditions and incidents on Virginia’s interstates and many primary roads, four tunnels and seven bridges in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia. If you are calling from outside Virginia, dial (800) 578-4111.

VDOT Highway Helpline - Dial (800) 367-ROAD to report problems or unsafe conditions on Virginia’s roadways. On the Internet, go to www.VirginiaDOT.org The link to report problems is http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/citizen.asp

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 toll facilities from Virginia to Massachusetts. For more information go to www.EZPassVA.com or call (877) 762-7824.

VDOT Safety Service Patrols – They respond to traffic incidents 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 and on I-64 in Albemarle County and on I-64 and I-81 in Augusta County.

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 on busy highway corridors. The centers warn motorists about traffic back-ups, crashes and other adverse road conditions through electronic message boards and highway advisory radio.

Interstate work zones and other traveler information>

Page last modified: Dec. 27, 2006