RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will celebrate Thanksgiving by taking a break from short-term lane closures to maximize the number of lanes available for travelers.

Short-term lane closures used to help crews conduct construction and maintenance projects will be suspended from noon Wednesday, Nov. 22, through Thanksgiving Day.

Construction in some areas may resume on Friday, Nov. 24.

Motorists are urged to obey the posted speed limits and pay attention to orange signs in work zones. They’re posted to guide drivers safely through the zones.

In Virginia last year, 14 people died in crashes in highway work zones. Nationally, four out of five people 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.

Services for motorists:

• 511 - Dial 511 or visit 511Virginia.org for information on driving conditions and incidents on Virginia’s interstates, many primary roads, and four tunnels and seven bridges in Hampton Roads and Northern Virginia.
  
  The system includes information on weather, regional tourist sites, food, lodging and emergency services. If you're calling from outside Virginia, dial (800) 578-4111.
  
  
• Highway Helpline - Dial (800) 367-ROAD to report problems or unsafe conditions. The link to report problems online is here.
  
  
• 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 click here or call (877) 762-7824.
  
  
• VDOT Safety Service Patrols – They respond to traffic crashes and help provide traffic control. Safety Service Patrols provide basic automobile repair and first aid to aid stranded motorists 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 using video cameras on busy highway corridors.
  
  The centers warn motorists about traffic back-ups, crashes and other adverse road conditions with electronic message boards and highway advisory radio.
  
  
• Safety Rest Areas – Three safety rest area and welcome centers are closed and will be completely reconstructed by summer 2007. These include the Winchester (Interstate 81 south), Fredericksburg (Interstate 95 south) and New Kent (Interstate 64 west) facilities.
  
  This is part of VDOT’s $20 million safety rest area and welcome center improvement program. Eleven others will be renovated by the end of December 2006. These sites remain open with temporary or portable restrooms.
  
  For the latest information about these projects, click here.

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 springfieldinterchange.com for details.

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

I-95/395 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes: HOV restrictions will be lifted and all HOV lanes will be northbound on Thanksgiving Day. The northbound lanes will close and be turned southbound at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 22. Southbound lanes will close and northbound lanes will open at 11 p.m. on Wednesday. HOV restrictions resume on Friday, Nov. 24.

Interstate 66 and Dulles Toll Road HOV lanes: Restrictions lifted on Thanksgiving Day.

Richmond

Interstate 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). The speed limit has been reduced to 55 mph in this zone.

I-64 at Staples Mill Road (bridge over Acca Railroad Yard): Eastbound lanes have no 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).

Hampton Roads

I-64/I-264/I-564 HOV lanes: On Thursday, Nov. 23, HOV restrictions will be lifted on all HOV lanes. The Reversible Roadway on I-64 will be open to westbound traffic from 1 to 11 a.m., and to eastbound traffic from 1 to 11 p.m. daily. HOV lanes will resume a normal schedule at 6 a.m. Monday, Nov. 27. NOTE: HOV/Reversible Roadway lane directions may shift throughout the holiday weekend, depending on conditions.

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 underway 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 previously lifted the HOV restriction on I-64 east and westbound from Indian River Road to Battlefield Boulevard. These lanes are open to all vehicles traveling through the project during all travel times. Click here for the latest project information.

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 be in service Thanksgiving Day. The ferry will operate on the regular fall schedule.

Shenandoah Valley

Interstate 81 in Rockbridge County at the Buffalo Creek project: There will be a lane closure on Monday, Nov. 20 and Tuesday, Nov. 21 from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. The southbound left lane will be closed from mile marker 185.5 to mile marker 183.5.

Piedmont

Route 55 – Fauquier County: Construction is under way to replace a bridge on Route 55 east of The Plains. The road is reduced to one lane. There is a temporary signal.

Route 601 – Albemarle County: The Old Ivy Road Bridge over Route 29/250 is still undergoing repairs. The westbound lane on Route 601 remains closed.

Southwest Virginia

Interstate 77/Interstate 81: Be alert to the possibility of slowed or stopped traffic in this area of Wythe County..

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

U.S. 29 and U.S. 29 Business at Chatham in Pittsylvania County – Vertical clearance of Route 29 North is reduced to 14 feet 3 inches. Width of Route 29 Business reduced to 13 feet 6 inches. Restricted vehicles must seek alternate routes.

I-81: Be aware of possible congestion from mile marker 150 to 118.

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Page last modified: Nov. 17, 2006