Interstate 81 (VA)
Effective and Less Destructive Alternatives to Expanding I-81
Case Summary
The Virginia Department of Transportation is looking at ways to address increasing traffic ― especially tractor-trailer traffic ― along the I-81 corridor. The agency originally considered a proposal from a private consortium to double the interstate from four lanes to eight lanes for all 325 miles the highway runs through the Commonwealth. This plan would have cost at least $13 billion, making it one of the most expensive road projects in the country.
SELC played a lead role in the effort to halt this environmentally harmful and exorbitantly expensive proposal, working with citizens, businesses, elected officials, and other groups. The plan has now been dropped.
Problems Remain
Improvements to I-81 are definitely needed. Unfortunately, VDOT’s latest plans for the corridor look much like the consortium’s proposal. The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved a more limited, phased approach to making improvements and a realistic assessment of alternatives, with widening as a last resort.
Yet VDOT’s plan for the most part proceeds directly to expanding I-81 to six lanes, and in most cases eight lanes; it would cost billions of dollars and cause tremendous harm to scenic, historic, and environmental resources. VDOT is currently proceeding with widening two segments.
SELC Response
Many critical issues remain to be decided about the steps to improve I-81. SELC will continue working to correct the flaws in VDOT’s analysis and planning, and seek to ensure that the state solves safety and traffic problems in the I-81 corridor with minimal impact to communities and to the environment. Among other things, we will continue to promote improving unsafe sections where most accidents occur, improving rail facilities to divert freight from the highway to trains, and improving local street networks to get more local drivers off the interstate.
SELC also serves on the Virginia Freight Advisory Committee, which is providing input to the state’s analysis of freight patterns and alternatives to improve freight transportation corridors, including I-81.