Under Construction: I-81/Route 8 (Exit 114) Bridge Replacements - Montgomery County/Christiansburg
Cost and schedule ►
Total estimated cost: 34.9 million
Est. construction start date: January 2019
Estimated completion date: Summer 2021
Traffic alerts ►
Temporary lane closures, traffic shifts, ramp closures and road detours may be necessary during construction. Access to all properties will be maintained during construction. Drivers should watch for message board notifications.
- A pair of temporary traffic signals are in place and will remain active throughout the duration of the project. The signals will control traffic movements for the on-ramps from Route 8 onto I-81 and the off-ramps from I-81 onto Route 8. Message boards will alert drivers.
- The speed limit has been reduced from 70 to 60 mph in the work zone in the vicinity of exit 114.
- DMV and Trucking Notice: The bridge on I-81 northbound at mile marker 114 currently has a restricted width for wide loads of 26 feet or larger.
Public outreach ►
VDOT advertised the bridge replacements as a design-build project in fall 2017. Total cost is estimated at $34.9 million.
Design Public Hearing
The Virginia Department of Transportation held a design public hearing on September 15, 2016.
Click here to see the public hearing brochure.
Click here to see the project display.
The primary purpose of this project is to replace the two Interstate 81 bridges over Route 8 that are nearing the end of their service life.
To replace these bridges, it is anticipated that mainline I-81 would be realigned, the exit 114 ramps adjusted and the grade changed at the bridges approaches. Currently, no major improvements to Route 8 are planned as part of this project.
During preliminary design of the proposed bridges over Route 8, concepts for potential future modifications of the interchange were considered. These included teardrop roundabout diamond, diverging diamond and conventional diamond interchanges.
This will be a design build project and it is fully funded.
Benefits
With the replacement of these bridges, I-81 will be realigned with a grade change at the approach to the new bridges and modifications to the exit ramps.
Resources
Lat/Long: 37.1160096, -80.4235056
Locality:
Montgomery
Page last modified: Oct. 21, 2020
