Northbound travelers on Interstate 81 can expect delays just north of Lexington beginning Thursday night as VDOT begins work on an upgrade project between Timber Ridge and Fairfield.
I-81 north will be closed from exit 195 to exit 200 beginning at 8 p.m. Thursday and lasting until 8 a.m. Friday. Traffic will proceed north on Route 11 from exit 195 and turn onto Route 710 to rejoin I-81 near Fairfield.
The interstate will reopen between Friday at 8 a.m. and midnight Saturday, but trucks will be detoured around the I-81 bridge at exit 200, crossing Route 710 before taking the on-ramp to rejoin the interstate. Passenger cars and other smaller vehicles will be allowed to continue on I-81, using the right lane to cross the bridge before shifting to the left lane at the bridge’s end.
Traffic will again be detoured to Route 11 between exits 195 and 200 from midnight Saturday until 10 a.m. Sunday. All work and closings could change, depending on the weather.
The I-81 construction project will add a third lane to the interstate. Truck traffic will be limited to the two right lanes. Also included in the project is bridge reconstruction at Route 716, Route 712 and Route 710, left and right shoulder work, guardrail work and drainage work.