RICHMOND, Va. – Planning an end-of-summer trip over Labor Day weekend in Virginia? Before you go, check the latest traffic and highway information with the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) travel tools.
You can find real-time information about traffic, incidents and congestion on Virginia roads by using 511.
Don’t drive distracted – please have a passenger use 511 if you’re driving, or pull off the road.
VDOT LIFTS LANE CLOSURES
VDOT will suspend most highway work zones for several days during the Labor Day holiday travel period to provide as many travel lanes as possible.
VDOT will lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads from noon Friday, Sept. 4, until noon Tuesday, Sept. 8.
VDOT HISTORIC TRAVEL-TREND MAP
VDOT can help you avoid peak congestion times during the Labor Day travel period. You can plan your arrival and departure times over the four-day travel period by using VDOT’s map of past travel trends for Virginia interstates, located at www.virginiaroads.org.
This online, interactive map shows peak congestion periods on Virginia interstates during the three previous Labor Day weekends (2012-2014).
The map indicates varying amounts of interstate traffic by time of day, using red for heavy congestion, yellow for moderate congestion and green for little or no congestion.
To use the map, slide the button along the date bar at the top of the map to update predicted traffic information at half-hour intervals between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. for each day. You also can zoom and pan to specific areas of the state.
- Based on the traffic data from the most recent Labor Day weekends, periods of heavy congestion are most likely to occur between noon and 9 p.m. on Friday.
- Historically, heavy congestion occurs on various segments of Interstate 95 southbound and Interstate 64 eastbound from Saturday morning to Saturday afternoon.
While the map shows trends for delays during the most recent Labor Day holidays, it cannot precisely predict congestion levels for this year’s four-day travel period.
- HOV restrictions on Interstate 66 and Interstate 395 will be lifted on Monday, Sept. 7.
- Direction schedule for Interstate 95 Express Lanes/I-395 reversible lanes:
- Friday, Sept. 4 – Lane reversal to southbound begins at 11 a.m.
- Saturday, Sept. 5 – Lane reversal to northbound begins at 2 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 6 − Lanes remain northbound all day.
- Monday, Sept. 7 − Lanes remain northbound all day.
- Tuesday, Sept. 8 – Lanes remain northbound during morning rush, and lane reversal to southbound begins at 11 a.m.
More information on Northern Virginia HOV schedules can be found at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hov-novasched.aspFor 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 Monday, Sept. 7.
- I-64 reversible lanes − Lanes will operate on the regular schedule with no HOV restrictions on Monday, Sept. 7.
- 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 I-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 Labor Day 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.
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.
Bristol
Interstate 81 – Improving exit 7 interchange. Be alert for 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.
Carroll County
Route 58 Business − Annual Hillsville Flea Market and Gun Show will cause significant traffic delays over Labor Day weekend.
Charles City County
Route 5 – Replacing bridge over Herring Creek. Temporary signal directing traffic.
Greensville County
Route 301 – Replacing southbound bridge over rail tracks north of Emporia. Traffic detoured to I-95.
Madison County
Route 231 – Replacing bridge over Mulatto Run. Traffic restricted to one lane controlled by temporary signals.
Richmond
Route 360 – Replacing bridge deck. Traffic limited to two lanes on Mechanicsville Turnpike over I-64, with one travel lane each direction. Ramp from eastbound U.S. 360 to I-64 westbound remains closed. Follow posted detour.
Roanoke
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 for 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 I-95 or I-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.
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