If you’ve driving Interstate 81 through Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley lately, you’ll likely notice the orange cones, the shifted lanes, and the slow crawl through construction zones. But what exactly is happening out there — and more importantly, what’s coming next? To find out, The Valley Today host Janet Michael sits down with Ken Slack, Communications Specialist for VDOT’s Staunton District, for a candid conversation about one of the most ambitious infrastructure programs in the state’s history. Click here to listen to the full conversation.
A Project 324 Miles in the Making
The numbers alone are enough to make your head spin. VDOT is currently executing 65 separate capital improvement projects along a single 324-mile stretch of I-81 — and the Shenandoah Valley sits squarely in the middle of it all. Right now, active construction zones operate simultaneously in Staunton, Harrisonburg, Weyers Cave, and Strasburg. That’s four major work zones within roughly 75 miles of highway.
“It’s gonna affect a lot of people over many years,” Slack acknowledges during the conversation. But far from being overwhelmed by the scope, VDOT is approaching the program with surgical precision — carefully sequencing each project to minimize disruption while keeping traffic flowing on one of the East Coast’s most heavily traveled corridors.
Strasburg: Progress at 40% — With More to Come
The most visible project in the Valley right now is the I-81 widening at Strasburg, and Slack reports that the work is moving steadily forward. Crews have already poured the deck for the first new section of the bridge over Cedar Creek, and the project sits at roughly 40% completion. By around August, VDOT plans to shift traffic toward the median, allowing contractors to tackle the next phase of bridge work on the outside lanes.
So why does it take so long? As Slack explains, bridge replacements — not road widening — drive the timeline. “Widening the actual roadway is not as complicated as replacing a bridge,” he says. “We do these bridge projects in stages so that we can keep traffic moving.” Two bridges are currently in play at Strasburg: a full replacement of the southbound span over Cedar Creek and a widening of the southbound bridge over the CSX railway about a mile further south.
Winchester’s Millwood Bridge: A Massive Undertaking
As significant as the Strasburg work is, it may be overshadowed by what’s coming at Exit 313 in Winchester. The I-81 bridge at Millwood Avenue — which carries Routes 50, 17, and 522 and sees tens of thousands of vehicles daily — is due for a complete overhaul. VDOT plans to replace the existing seven-lane structure with a new nine-lane bridge, building it just to the north of the current span before shifting traffic over.
The surrounding improvements are equally ambitious. Turn lanes, auxiliary lanes, and pedestrian accommodations will reshape the roadway on both the city and county sides of the interchange. “It’s a very complicated project no matter what,” Slack says plainly. For drivers who rely on that corridor daily, his advice is clear: start paying attention now, because the changes — and the disruptions — will be significant.
Exit 317: A New Kind of Interchange
Meanwhile, just a few miles to the north, VDOT is preparing to fundamentally redesign Exit 317 at Martinsburg Pike. The plan calls for a diverging diamond interchange — a relatively new design that improves traffic flow by temporarily routing drivers to the opposite side of the road as they cross the overpass. It’s a concept that may sound counterintuitive but has proven highly effective at reducing congestion and improving safety.
“It’s a completely different kind of interchange,” Slack says. “We don’t have any on 81 in this part of Virginia.” To make room for the new design, VDOT is already relocating Redbud Road — a necessary first step before the northbound off-ramp can be repositioned. All of this work, including the widening of I-81 from mile markers 317 to 319, will be bundled under a single design-build contract.
A public meeting is scheduled for June 23, 2026, and Slack encourages anyone with an interest in the project to attend. Want to hear more about what to expect at these meetings? Listen to the full conversation at https://thevalleytodaypodcast.com/vdot-road-report-planning-public-input-and-progressÂ
Why Public Input Actually Matters
Speaking of public meetings, Slack is quick to push back on a common perception: that by the time VDOT holds a meeting, the decisions have already been made. Not so, he insists. “There are some things that all of the traffic studies in the world and all of the detailed engineering analysis may not be able to tell you,” he said.
Local knowledge — school bus patterns, seasonal surges, quirks in the way people actually use the roads — can shape design decisions in ways that data simply can’t capture. VDOT structures its public meetings to be as accessible as possible: no podiums, no formal testimony, just open-house style sessions with engineers, display boards, and one-on-one conversations. For those who can’t attend in person, an online survey runs simultaneously, allowing anyone to weigh in from home.
Oranda Park and Ride: A Small Project With Big Impact
Not every improvement on VDOT’s list involves a billion-dollar interchange. Near Strasburg at Exit 298, the agency is preparing to nearly triple the size of the Oranda Park and Ride — expanding from roughly 43 spaces to approximately 130. The upgraded facility will feature full paving, improved lighting, curbing, and a new crosswalk across Oranda Road.
Construction should begin this summer, and Slack is quick to reassure local commuters: the work won’t impact traffic on Route 11 or I-81. It’s the kind of unglamorous but genuinely useful improvement that often flies under the radar — until, suddenly, you need a parking spot.
The Bigger Picture
Ultimately, what makes this conversation so compelling isn’t any single project — it’s the sheer scale and complexity of coordinating all of them at once. Contractor sequencing, design-build partnerships, community outreach, resource allocation — every piece has to fit together for the program to succeed. And through it all, Slack keeps coming back to one theme: communication.
“Folks are sometimes a little more understanding about the delays and congestion on these projects if they understand what we’re doing and why we’re doing it,” he says. It’s a simple idea, but in a region where I-81 is a lifeline for commuters, businesses, and travelers alike, it makes all the difference.
To hear the full conversation with Ken Slack — including details on the diverging diamond interchange, how VDOT selects contractors, and what to expect at the upcoming public meeting — click here to listen to this episode of The Valley Today.
Stay up to date on all I-81 projects at *improve81.org or by searching “VDOT projects” online.*
