Proposed

I-81 Exit 150 Access Management

Project at a Glance

Cost
$12-20 million

Lengths and Limits
From 0.15 mile north of Route 1039 on Route 11 to Route 653 on Route 11

Locality
Botetourt

District
Salem

Contact

Jason Oldham, P.E.
540-387-5353

What's being proposed?

The Route 11, 220, 220A Access Management Project at I-81 Exit 150 evolved as a study to provide interim measures to improve the safety and capacity of the existing intersection and associated northbound movements from and to Interstate 81 that have a direct impact on routes 11, 220 and 220A.

Approximately $20 million has been allocated to make access management improvements in this area. The goal of this project is to provide effective alternatives that will stay within the budget. Ten options were reviewed by a stakeholders group of citizens, engineers, area business owners and county officials.

Six alternatives were carried forward for further study and were presented to the public at a citizen information meeting on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2009. The options focus on improving safety and capacity in the study area at an affordable cost.

On Monday, May 17, the stakeholders group met and recommended that VDOT proceeds with a new alternative that combines features of several of the alternatives presented to the public in August 2009.

The stakeholder group recommended alternative

Click here to view a drawing of the alternative

The alternative that has been recommended by the stakeholder group would have the following features:

Provides a roundabout instead of a traffic signal to enhance traffic flow at the Exit 150B/Route 11 intersection.
A dedicated Exit 150B off ramp with NB 220 was added to enhance the existing Route 11/220/220A intersection and provide improved access management.
Travel Centers of America will be acquired.
Exit 150A remains open with access to Route 11 southbound only.
New NB I-81 on-ramp provided adjacent to Exit 150B. Existing NB I-81 on-ramp closed.
Impacts to the Pilot Station with right in/right out access only.
Center turn lane along Route 11 is replaced with a raised median with no left turns allowed between Exit 150B and the Route 11/220/220A intersection.
Allows for the future connection to the loop road.
Estimated cost of $21.5 million.

The Six Alternatives

Alternative 1: Conflict Management
Alternative 1 would include closing Exit 150A and would provide a new on-ramp to northbound I-81 adjacent to Exit 150B. The existing on-ramp to northbound I-81 would remain open. Drivers traveling south on Route 220 would be prohibited from accessing the current northbound I-81 on-ramp, and would be required to use the new northbound I-81 on-ramp adjacent to Exit 150B. A traffic signal would be added between the two truck facilities on Route 11. A raised median would be added along portions of Route 11.
Estimated cost of Alternative 1: $11.8 million

Alternative 1A: Access Management
Alternative 1A would include the same configuration as Alternative 1. However, Alternative 1A would also include a raised median along Route 11 to the east of Route 220 that would prohibit left turns between the truck stops. Alternative 1A would also include acquisition of the Travel Centers of America and the Pilot Station.
Estimated cost of Alternative 1A: $21.6 million

Alternative 1B: Truck Stop Acquisition
Alternative 1B would include the acquisition of the Travel Centers of America and the Pilot Station. No other changes or improvements would be made.
Estimated cost of Alternative 1B: $13.7 million

Alternative 3: Loop Road
Alternative 3 would include closing Exit 150A and would provide a new on-ramp to northbound I-81 adjacent to Exit 150B. The existing on-ramp to northbound I-81 would remain open. Drivers traveling south on Route 220 would be prohibited from accessing the current northbound I-81 on-ramp, and would be required to use the new northbound I-81 on-ramp adjacent to Exit 150B. A loop road would be built from Exit 150B to Route 220 Alternate to relieve pressure and increase capacity at the Route 11/220 intersection. An additional signal would be added between the two truck facilities. A raised median would be added between the two truck facilities with left turns allowed at three signalized locations.
Estimated cost of Alternative 3: $21.4 million

Alternative 3A: Loop Road and Route 11 Median
Alternative 3A would include the same configuration as Alternative 3. However, the raised median along Route 11 between the truck stops would prohibit left turns into the truck stop parking lots.
Estimated cost of Alternative 3A: $17.5 million

Alternative 4: Removal of northbound I-81 on-ramp
Alternative 4 would include a layout similar to Alternative 1. However, the existing northbound I-81 on-ramp would be closed.
Estimated cost of Alternative 4: $11.8 million