In the News

 Colby Johnson | WDBJ 7 

The Virginia Department of Transportation will receive an additional $17 million in federal funding for improvements on Interstate 81, adding to the $4 billion already being spent on projects over the next decade.

Virginia 6th District Republican Congressman Ben Cline secured the funding, which was included in the appropriations bill President Trump signed last week to end a partial government shutdown. The money can be used for widening and other improvements along the interstate.

“We’re very excited that $17 million was included in this transportation appropriations bill,” Cline said. “It’s going to make sure we finish up the construction sooner and get that traffic flowing faster.”

Cline described I-81 as “the economic backbone of western Virginia,” with distribution networks serving the entire East Coast depending on it. However, he said the interstate has become increasingly dangerous for local residents.

“Folks I know don’t get on 81 anymore because it’s so dangerous,” Cline said. “It was built for 15% truck traffic. Now it gets at least 30% truck traffic. If you hit it at the wrong time of the weekend, it’s over 50% truck traffic.”

Cline said the high percentage of truck traffic creates more deadly accidents.

“Those accidents that occur are much deadlier when it’s between a car and a truck than just two cars. So we have a higher death rate on 81 because of those accidents,” he said.

People who drive on I-81 every day said the interstate has several problems that the money could help address.

“The bridges. There are big pot holes before you hit the bridge, it causes a big thump on the cars,” said Nicolas Rodriguez Jr. “There’s a lot of traffic on the weekends,” added his father, Nicolas Rodriguez.

Rodriguez Jr. said he thinks adding another lane would make a big difference, something his father echoed.

“At the moment we don’t really need it, but I know in the future we will, since the city is growing,” Rodriguez said.

Austin Price spends around an hour a day traveling on I-81 for work, typically between mile markers 132 and 152. He said widening more of the road would make a big difference.

“I’d like to see it get a little bit wider due to the congestion of the tractor-trailers and everyone traveling,” Price said. “There are always a lot of accidents, especially in this probably 20 to 30-mile strip. It can hold you up anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours. I think a lane extension would definitely prevent that.”

Price acknowledged that there will likely be greater delays during ongoing lane extension work, but said he thinks it will be worth it in the long run.

The $17 million represents new money on top of existing state and federal funding from gas taxes already flowing into I-81 projects.

“When I can use my influence in Washington to get this extra money sent to the Roanoke Valley, to the Shenandoah Valley, to Southwest Virginia, that’s an important victory that we can all celebrate,” Cline said.

The money will go into VDOT’s I-81 Corridor Improvement Program funds. Cline said VDOT will make the decision on where exactly the money will be used, but he hopes it can help speed up widening projects that are already underway.

“We’re so far behind in this widening effort that it’s all hands on deck. So as fast as we can get these projects done, the better,” Cline said. “If there are projects already in the pipeline that this money can help advance by six months or even more, I want to do that.”

Cline noted the complexity of current projects, including the Salem widening that has been ongoing for years and the upcoming work around Cloverdale.

“Wherever it is, whatever mile marker it is on 81. You know, we’ve got 300 miles of 81 that need widening. I want to widen from Bristol to Winchester. So I’m going to continue to work on that. And every little bit helps,” Cline said.

With projects on 81 slated through 2035, improving the road is a slow and expensive process. VDOT recently began a widening project to add a third lane in each direction between exits 143 and 150 in Botetourt and Roanoke Counties. The project will also replace several bridges and is expected to take until Summer 2031 to complete.

“Widening is going to make it safer, make it more economically successful. More businesses will want to locate here. More jobs will get created here, and that’s why we want to continue to press on this important infrastructure project,” Cline said.

VDOT said the $17 million in federal funding will be used to advance ongoing projects on I-81.

VDOT Commissioner Stephen C. Brich said in a statement: “We appreciate the support for safety improvements along this vital and important corridor in the Commonwealth and look forward to working with Rep. Cline and others as this moves forward.”

Read the full story in WDBJ 7 here.