BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) – VDOT is gearing up for a major widening project on Interstate 81. It plans to add an additional lane in each direction between exits 143 and 150 in Botetourt and Roanoke counties.
Drivers in Botetourt County who spoke to WDBJ7 Thursday have mixed feelings about the project.
“I think it’s probably necessary, but it’s going to be a mess for quite a long time. The traffic is already really congested around the weigh station as it is, and knowing how long it took the Salem project to get done on widening that, that’s my biggest concern is what it’s going to be like until it’s done,” said Kim Smith, who lives in Botetourt County. “Once it is done, I think it’s needed and it probably will be great, but it’s going to be a pain for a while.”…