Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 24, traffic on southbound Interstate 81 at mile marker 97 in Pulaski County will be reduced to one lane.  One lane of southbound I-81 is expected to remain closed until mid-November when bridge repairs are completed.

The lane closure is necessary due to repairs to the I-81 bridge over Route 611 (Newbern Road).  The bridge was damaged on Tuesday, Aug. 26 when an over height vehicle struck the bridge.

The Virginia Department of Transportation had anticipated keeping two travel lanes of southbound I-81 open during the bridge repairs.  However, VDOT determined the nature of the bridge repairs required reducing southbound I-81 to one lane at this location.  

The lane closure on southbound I-81 at mile marker 97 will go into effect during nighttime hours on Wednesday, Sept. 24 when barrier wall is moved into place to control traffic and temporary pavement markings are installed.  The speed limit in this work zone will be 55 mph. 

An emergency repair contract has been awarded to contractor DLB, Inc. for $272,810.  The estimated completion date for the repairs is mid-November.

In addition to the lane closure on southbound I-81, Route 611 traffic has been detoured from passing beneath the bridge.  Route 611 will be detoured onto Route 643 (Cougar Trail) and F-047, a frontage road.  Route 611 is expected to remain closed in this area through mid-November. 

For traffic updates, dial 511 or visit the Web site at www.511Virginia.org.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.