VDOT Lifts Lane Closures For July 4 Travel

RICHMOND, Va. – Know what’s ahead on the highway this Fourth of July holiday by using the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) travel tools to see the latest traffic conditions before you leave.

You can find real-time information about traffic, incidents and congestion on Virginia roads at www.511Virginia.org.Motorists can also download the free VDOT 511 mobile app for Apple and Android devices to stay connected.

Motorists also can call 511 from any phone in Virginia. Please have your passengers make the call if you are driving, or pull off the road to make the call yourself – don’t drive distracted.

VDOT LIFTS LANE CLOSURES

VDOT will suspend most highway work zones for several days over the Fourth of July holiday travel period to provide as many travel lanes as possible.

Lane closures will be lifted on interstates and other major roads from noon Thursday, July 2, to noon Monday, July 6.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (HOV) SCHEDULE AND OTHER INFORMATION:

• HOV restrictions on Interstate 66 and Interstate 395 will be lifted on Friday, July 3. Normal HOV restrictions will be in place on Thursday, July 2.
• Direction schedule for the Interstate 95 Express Lanes/I-395 reversible lanes:

• Friday, July 3 − Lane reversal to southbound begins at 11 a.m.
• Saturday, July 4 − Lanes reverse to northbound at midnight. Lanes reverse to southbound at 7 p.m.
• Sunday, July 5 − Lanes reverse to northbound at midnight and remain northbound all day.
• Monday, July 6 − Lanes remain northbound through the morning rush hour. Lanes reverse to southbound at 11 a.m.

• July 4 event traffic − To accommodate travelers attending Fourth of July events in Washington, D.C., VDOT will coordinate and adjust signal timings at more than 122 signalized intersections along major roads in Virginia, including routes 1, 7, 29, 50, 123, 236 and 244. VDOT will time signals to help traffic move into the District of Columbia during the day and then south and west from the city between 9:30 p.m. and midnight.

More information on Northern Virginia HOV schedules can be found at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hov-novasched.asp

For information on the 95 and 495 Express Lanes, visit http://www.expresslanes.com. Drivers are reminded that they need an E-ZPass Flex (for HOV-3 to ride toll-free) or an E-ZPass to use the lanes at all times.

HAMPTON ROADS HOV SCHEDULE, TUNNELS AND OTHER INFORMATION:

• Interstate 64/Interstate 264/Interstate 564 HOV diamond lanes – HOV restrictions will be lifted on all HOV diamond lanes on Friday, July 3.
• I-64 reversible lanes − Lanes will operate on the regular schedule with no HOV restrictions on Friday, July 3.
• I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) – Motorists traveling to Virginia Beach are encouraged to use the Interstate 664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) as an alternative to the HRBT. To Virginia Beach, take I-664 south to the MMMBT. Then take the Portsmouth/Norfolk exit (exit 15A) to Interstate 264 east to Virginia Beach.
• Travel to Outer Banks: Motorists going to the North Carolina Outer Banks should use I-664 and the MMMBT to save time. From I-664 south, take I-64 west to exit 292, Chesapeake Expressway/Interstate 464/Route 17. Keep left to continue to the Chesapeake Expressway (Route 168), and take Nags Head/Great Bridge (exit 291B) to the Outer Banks.
• Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) – Tune to 1680 AM to stay informed on Hampton Roads traffic, travel conditions and construction information.

WORK ZONES AND OTHER TRAFFIC ALERTS

While VDOT will lift most lane closures during the Fourth of July holiday period, motorists may encounter permanent work zones or travel delays in the following locations:

Amherst County

Route 501– Replacing bridge at Route 130 intersection over James River. Traffic controls and flaggers in use.

Ashland

Route 54 – Replacing bridge. Travel on bridge over I-95 limited to one lane each direction.

Augusta County

Route 250– Replacing bridges at White Oak Draft and at Calfpasture River on Hankey Mountain Highway. Traffic restricted to one lane at both locations with temporary signals.

Botetourt County

Interstate 81:

• Mile marker 162 to 167 – Paving. Lane closures, northbound, 10 p.m.-6 a.m., Sunday-Thursday.
• Mile marker 155 – Repairing bridge over Route 676. Alternating lane closures, both directions, 9 p.m.-6 a.m., Sunday-Thursday.
• Mile marker 151 – Repairing bridge over Route 779. Alternating lane closures, both directions, 9 p.m.-6 a.m., Sunday-Thursday.
• Mile marker 147 – Repairing bridge over Route 648. Alternating lane closures, both directions, 9 p.m.-6 a.m., Sunday-Thursday.

Bristol

I-81– Improving exit 7 interchange. Be alert to delays.

Carroll, Floyd, Patrick counties

Route 58 – Improving eight miles of highway between Laurel Fork in Carroll County and Meadows of Dan in Patrick County.

Charles City County

Route 5 – Replacing bridge over Herring Creek. Temporary signal directing traffic.

Clarke County

Route 7, eastbound – Single lane closure from 6 a.m.-3 p.m. on Thursday, July 3 from Route 604 (Ebenezer Road) to Route 601 (Blue Ridge Mountain Road) for 2015 World Police & Fire Games Cycling-Hill Climb Event. Speed limit reduced to 35 mph during event.

Culpeper County

Route 3 – Widening road. Traffic restricted to one lane with flagging from Route 669 (Carrico Mills Road) to Route 750 (Ellis Road) until 3 p.m. Thursday, July 2.

Dinwiddie County

Route 226 – Replacing bridge over Vulcan Quarry. Temporary signal directing traffic.

Greensville County

Route 301 – Replacing southbound bridge over rail tracks north of Emporia. Traffic detoured to I-95.

Henry County

Route 58 – Repairing bridge over Horsepasture Creek. Alternating lane closures, 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday-Friday. Flaggers may control traffic.

Lunenburg County

Route 712 – Replacing bridge over North Meherrin River. Drivers should follow posted detour.

Madison County

Route 231 – Replacing bridge over Mulatto Run. Traffic restricted to one lane controlled by temporary signals.

Montgomery County

Route 8 – Lane closure on Route 8 (Riner Road) near Route 699 (Fairview Church Road).  

Pulaski County

Interstate 81:

• Mile markers 87 to 105 – Alternating lane closures, both directions, 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Mile markers 93 to 96 – Repairing bridges. Lane closures, 8 p.m.-6 a.m., Monday-Thursday.

Richmond

Route 360 – Replacing bridge deck. Traffic limited to two lanes on Mechanicsville Turnpike over I-64, with one travel lane each direction.

Roanoke

I-81 over Route 641 – Repairing bridge. Lane closures, 10 p.m.-6 a.m., Sunday-Thursday. Daytime lane closures on Route 641. 

Interstate 581 – Improving Valley View interchange. Shoulders closed, barricades in place as work continues.

Rockbridge County

Interstate 64: Rehabilitating Maury River bridge. Eastbound traffic will detour across median to westbound lanes between mile markers 53.3 and 55.3. Traffic both directions will use westbound bridge during work on eastbound bridge.

Southampton County

Route 35 – Replacing bridge at Courtland. Detour to Route 58 and Route 58 Business.

Wythe County

Interstate 77/Interstate 81 overlap – High traffic volumes could slow or stop vehicles through this eight-mile stretch. Be alert to delays on northbound I-77 at the I-81 merge.

Motorist Safety Tips

VDOT encourages all motorists to do their part to prevent highway crashes by following these safety tips while driving:

• Buckle up
• Avoid distractions
• Share the road
• Drive drug- and alcohol-free
• Obey speed limits

Travelers are reminded that Virginia’s “Move Over” law requires motorists to move to the next lane, if possible, when approaching vehicles with flashing blue, red or amber lights that are stopped on the side of the road. For more information, see http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/move_it_move_over.asp

Additional Travel Tools

Lane closures and incident reports available on 511 also are communicated through VDOT’s Twitter accounts, targeted for different regions of Virginia and specific interstate corridors, such as Interstate 95 or Interstate 81.

Visit http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/vdot_twitter_feeds.asp for a list of VDOT’s Twitter accounts and information on how to subscribe.

VDOT’s Customer Service Center

To report a road problem or get answers to your transportation questions, call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) around the clock.

For information about major long-term construction projects on Virginia’s interstates and primary roads, visithttp://www.virginiadot.org/travel/major_road_construction_projects.asp for VDOT’s interactive “Road Construction Ahead” map.

E-ZPass

Virginia belongs to the E-ZPass electronic toll-collection network. E-ZPass customers can use their transponders at toll facilities in Virginia and 14 other states. For more information on E-ZPass, visit www.ezpassva.com.