SALEM, Va. (WFXR) – Entering and exiting Interstate 81 in the New River Valley just got easier, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
The department announced the opening of two ramp extensions on the interstate that give drivers more room to accelerate and merge.
- I-81 southbound 94 entrance ramp (VA-99 Pulaski) in Pulaski County extended by 950 feet
- I-81 northbound 105 entrance ramp (Radford) in Montgomery County extended by 2,000 feet
The northbound 105 entrance ramp also will get a rock drape, the first of its kind on Interstate 81, to prevent rocks from falling onto the roadway. VDOT said it’s made of high-strength wire mesh panels that sit over a rock slope, forming a cover. And because it lays directly over the mountain’s incline, it doesn’t hinder driver visibility.
IN OTHER TRAFFIC NEWS: Work begins on new Pulaski County roundabout
Construction for both projects began Fall 2025.
The entrance ramp from Route 11 onto northbound Interstate 81 at exit 162 (Buchanan) in Botetourt County will also be extended by about 1,000 feet, along with adding new drainage structures and a retaining wall. Work on that project is expected to complete late 2026…