Interstate 81 in Harrisonburg set for major expansion as VDOT awards nearly 219 million contract

Harrisonburg, Virginia – The Commonwealth Transportation Board has officially awarded a $218.9 million construction contract to Triton Construction Inc. of St. Albans, West Virginia. The contract, approved during the board’s January 6 meeting in Richmond, greenlights a long-anticipated project to widen nearly six miles of Interstate 81 in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County. Construction is scheduled to begin this spring and is expected to take approximately six years to complete.

Major Improvements to Address Congestion and Support Economic Growth

The widening project will add a third lane in both the northbound and southbound directions from about one mile south of Exit 243 (Route 11/South Main Street) to one mile north of Exit 247 (Route 33/East Market Street). In addition to increasing highway capacity, the project will replace eight interstate mainline bridges and the Pleasant Valley Road overpass bridge.

The work is part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP), a statewide initiative designed to enhance safety, reduce traffic congestion, and support continued regional economic development. “This is one of the largest and most ambitious projects along the corridor,” said Dave Covington, I-81 Program Delivery Director for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). “Triton Construction is in the final stages of exit 247 improvements, and will be able to move seamlessly into the widening project.”

The project’s contract sets a completion date of June 2032, though VDOT expects to open the new travel lanes to traffic by late 2031, offering relief to commuters and freight traffic even before the final touches are completed.

Initial Work and Community Outreach

Early stages of construction will focus on strengthening the right shoulders of the highway and installing temporary concrete barriers to protect workers. These operations will primarily take place during nighttime and overnight hours to minimize disruption to drivers.

The widening work itself will take place toward the median, staying within the existing VDOT right-of-way. A continuous concrete barrier will separate northbound and southbound traffic throughout the construction zone. Other major upgrades include approximately four miles of sound barrier walls to reduce highway noise, improvements to stormwater management systems, and replacing the signalized intersection at Early Road and Pleasant Valley Road with a modern roundabout.

“This is a long-awaited project for I-81 drivers and for Harrisonburg,” said Joel DeNunzio, VDOT Staunton District Engineer. “We will engage with the community every step of the way so they know what’s happening and how it will affect them.”

VDOT has committed to an extensive public outreach campaign, including in-person meetings, press updates, social media engagement, and online project tracking. Residents and commuters will be kept informed of construction progress, traffic impacts, and upcoming changes through the VDOT website and social platforms.

Part of a Larger Statewide Investment in I-81

The Harrisonburg project is just one component of the nearly $4 billion I-81 Corridor Improvement Program, which encompasses 65 construction projects and numerous operational enhancements throughout the corridor in Virginia. Other major projects in the Staunton District include the Staunton-area widening (set to finish in summer 2027), the Weyers Cave truck-climbing lanes (late 2027), the Strasburg-area southbound widening (fall 2028), and the Winchester-area widening (beginning in 2028).

For additional information, including interactive maps, timelines, and project updates, Virginians can visit Improve81.org, the official website for the corridor program. The site offers podcasts, construction videos, and detailed planning materials aimed at keeping the public engaged and informed.

With construction on the Harrisonburg segment set to begin soon, the Commonwealth moves one step closer to delivering safer, more efficient travel through one of Virginia’s most critical highway corridors.