In the News

The U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 22 voted 341-88 to advance a fiscal year 2026 appropriations bill that includes $17 million in federal funding proposed by U.S. Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA) for improvements along Interstate 81. The bill is awaiting final approval in the U.S. Senate. 

“For years, residents of Virginia’s Sixth District have told me how dangerous and congested I-81 has become,” Rep. Cline said. “This bill’s passage out of the House puts us one step closer to critical improvements that will make I-81 safer, more efficient, and better equipped to serve commuters, families, and the truck drivers who keep our regional economy moving. 

“This is a meaningful step toward delivering the reliable interstate our communities along the I-81 corridor deserve,” added the congressman.

The I-81 corridor handles an enormous volume of freight and passenger traffic with more than 12 million commercial trucks traveling along the interstate, moving roughly $300 billion in goods. 

As traffic increases, so does the need to modernize the highway to support on-time delivery and reduce disruptions that hurt both local businesses and national commerce.

The I-81 proposed funds are included in the House-approved Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, H.R. 7148, which would fund the departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Defense, Labor, and others.

The latest investment secured by Rep. Cline and included in H.R. 7148 would support critical upgrades and potential widening along I-81, according to a bill summary provided by his office.

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