Virginia Secures $89.7 Million for I-81 Truck Lanes and Highway Upgrades

Virginia will receive up to $89.7 million in federal loans to improve Interstate 81, one of the East Coast's major freight corridors, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced October 7.

The projects include new truck climbing lanes in Washington and Augusta counties, giving heavy trucks more room to climb steep grades without slowing other traffic. Improvements near Wytheville will also extend exit ramps and add merging lanes.

The funding will help replace aging bridges over Peppers Ferry Road and the northbound I-81 bridge over I-77. According to USDOT, I-81 carries 43% of Virginia's interstate truck traffic.

The loans support Virginia's larger $4 billion I-81 Corridor Improvement Program. Construction is already underway on several projects, with the overall program expected to be completed in late 2035.