Under Construction
Interstate 81 Truck Climbing Lanes - Montgomery County |
Project Photos
Project at a Glance
2010
Est Completion Date
Fall 2013
Cost
$75.4 million
Lengths and Limits
Interstate 81 from mile marker 120 to mile marker 125
Contractor
CH2M HILL Constructors, Inc. of Chantilly
Locality
Montgomery
District
Salem
Contact
Bobby Phlegar
540-378-5083
What is being done?
This project will add a 12-foot continuous truck climbing lane to southbound Interstate 81 from milepost 120 near Christiansburg to milepost 125.
Work also will be performed to upgrade the median and outside shoulder of I-81. Most widening will occur on the outside shoulder, but some widening may be required in the median.
Southbound I-81 crosses over Route 641 (Den Hill Road) and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks south of mile marker 121. The existing southbound bridge will be replaced to incorporate one additional lane and increase the shoulder width to meet current interstate standards.
Route 636 (Seneca Hollow Road and Friendship Road) are two-lane roadways that cross over I-81 twice, once at mile marker 123 and once at mile marker 124.9. These two bridges will be reconstructed to allow for the additional lane.
The total estimated cost for a truck climbing lane on southbound Interstate 81 from mile marker 120 to mile marker 125 is $75.4 million.
No businesses, residences or non-profit organizations will be displaced as a result of this project.
Benefits
Completion of the project will enhance the safety of I-81 in this area by allowing slower moving vehicles to stay in the right two-lanes. Other benefits of the project include better traffic management with wider shoulders plus the use of the additional travel lane during traffic incidents.
What is the latest with the project development?
Construction on the I-81 truck climbing lane in Montgomery County began in spring 2011 and is expected to be completed by November 2013.
When will blasting take place this week?
As part of the project to build a truck climbing lane on southbound I-81 between mile markers 120 and 125, blasting is scheduled on weekdays, Monday through Friday, at approximately 10:30 a.m. No blasting is scheduled on Saturdays or Sundays. Blasting may cause the following traffic impacts:
• Detonation of charges will be scheduled daily, Monday through Friday, between 11 a.m. and noon.
• Southbound I-81 traffic will be detoured off I-81 at exit 132 (Dixie Caverns) onto Route 11/460 and back onto I-81 at exit 118 (Christiansburg). The detour will be implemented daily sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and will be removed immediately once slopes have been scaled and the road is deemed safe for the traveling public. State Police will assist with this detour. A right lane closure will be in place on westbound Route 11/460 during the detour.
• On northbound I-81, a rolling road block starting at mile marker 114 sometime between 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. will be used to slow traffic. During blasting, the on-ramps will be restricted onto northbound Interstate 81 at exit 118 (Christiansburg) and onto southbound I-81 at exit 128 (Ironto).
• Flaggers may control traffic on Route 636 (Seneca Hollow Road and Friendship Road) and on Route 641 (Den Hill Road) during blasting.
