Studies

What's Being Done

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is conducting a location study to evaluate alternatives to meet existing and future travel needs in the study area between Exit 72 and Exit 81 on co-located Interstate 81 and 77 near Wytheville.  To facilitate this action, VDOT and FHWA completed a Tier 1 Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision (ROD) in 2007, and this Environmental Assessment (EA) serves as the second tier study.

In May 2012, the Commonwealth Transportation Board selected the location for the I-77/I-81 overlap in Wythe County choosing Candidate Build Alternative B, which adds one travel lane in each direction of the current location of the overlap.

Three alternatives were presented during a public hearing in September 2011: Candidate Build A, separation of the two interstates; Candidate Build B, the addition of one travel lane in each direction; and a no-build option.

The next steps in the process are to revise the environmental assessment based on the board's decision and public comment received during the September 2011 public hearing, then request a final decision on the environmental assessment from FHWA.

The cost estimate for Candidate Build B is $457 million and includes preliminary engineering, right of way and construction.  Currently funding has not been identified for these phases.

Project Updates

An Interstate 77/81 Overlap Location Public Hearing was held Sept. 28, 2011 at the Wytheville Meeting Center in Wytheville.  

• I-81 Corridor Improvement Study Tier 2 I-77/I-81 Overlap brochure
  
• Public hearing boards
  
• Comment sheet
  
• Project study area map
  
• Environmental Assessment (EA) signed by FHWA, July 26, 2011
  

• Technical Reports

  • Air
  • Alternatives

  • Cultural Resources

    • Architectural Identification Survey
    • Architectural Identification Survey: Candidate Build Alternative (CBA) A and Expanded Interchange Area
    • Architectural Evaluation
    • Archeological Assessment
    • Archeological Assessment Addendum
  • Natural Resources

  • Noise

    • Appendix A
    • Appendix B
    • Appendix C

  • Transportation Technical Report

    • Appenxdix
      
  •  Relocation assistance
    
    •  Report A
      
      
    •  Report B
      
      

• Scoping and citizen information meeting, Dec. 4, 2008

  • Conceptual alternatives map
  • Meeting information boards
  • Brochure