VDOT Urges Motorists To Plan Ahead For Holiday Travel

RICHMOND, Va. – Online tools from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) allow you to stay up to date on traffic conditions and can make travel easier during the year-end holidays. 

“The Christmas and New Year’s holidays are busy times for travel each year,” said VDOT Commissioner Charlie Kilpatrick. “Motorists should plan ahead, drive safely and take a break when needed to ensure they reach their destination safely to enjoy the holiday.” 

You can find real-time information about traffic, incidents and road conditions on Virginia roads with VDOT’s 511 system. Visit 511Virginia.org, download VDOT’s free 511 app, or dial 5-1-1 from any phone in Virginia. To report a road problem or get answers to your transportation questions, call VDOT’s Customer Service Centerat 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) around the clock.

MOST MAJOR WORK ZONES SUSPENDED DURING PEAK HOLIDAY TRAVEL 

VDOT will suspend most highway work zones during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to limit congestion and provide as many travel lanes as possible. 

VDOT will lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia during the following dates and times: 

• Noon, Thursday, Dec. 24, to noon, Monday, Dec. 28, and
• Noon, Thursday, Dec. 31, to noon, Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.
  

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

• Thursday, Dec. 24 − Normal HOV restrictions are in effect. Interstate 95 and Interstate 395 reversible lanes will be northbound until 10 a.m. They will reopen southbound by noon.
• Friday, Dec. 25 − HOV restrictions on Interstate 66 and I-395 are lifted. I-95/395 reversible lanes will be southbound all day.
• Saturday, Dec. 26 – I-95/395 reversible lanes will be southbound until 2 p.m. They will reopen northbound by 4 p.m.
• Thursday, Dec. 31 − Normal HOV restrictions are in effect. I-95/395 reversible lanes will be northbound until 10 a.m. They will reopen southbound by noon.
• Friday, Jan. 1− HOV restrictions on I-66 and I-395 are lifted. I-95/395 reversible lanes will be southbound all day.
• Saturday, Jan. 2 – I-95/395 reversible lanes will be southbound until 2 p.m. They will reopen northbound by 4 p.m.
  

More information on Northern Virginia HOV schedules can be found at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hov-novasched.asp. For information on the I-95 and Interstate 495 express lanes, visithttp://www.expresslanes.com. Drivers need either an E-ZPass Flex (for HOV-3 to ride toll-free) or an E-ZPass to use the express 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, Dec. 25, and Friday, Jan. 1, 2016.
• I-64 reversible lanes − Lanes will operate on the regular schedule with no HOV restrictions on Friday, Dec. 25 and Friday, Jan. 1.
  

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.

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 for holiday travel, motorists may encounter permanent work zones or travel delays in the following locations:

Accomack County 

Route 609 – Road closed for widening project. Use detour.

Albemarle County/ Charlottesville

U.S. 29 – All lanes will be open through the “Route 29 Solutions” construction projects. Watch for reduced speed limits and narrowed lane widths in work zones.

Amherst County

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

Charles City County

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

Dinwiddie County

Route 226 – Replacing bridge 0.3 miles east of U.S. 460. Temporary signal directing traffic.

Essex County

U.S. 17 – Replacing bridge at Tignor Creek. Traffic reduced to one lane each direction in Tappahannock, near June Parker Marina.

Fluvanna County

Route 6 – Replacing bridge over Rivanna River. Traffic restricted to one lane controlled by temporary signals.

Frederick County

I-81 – Reconstructing interchange at exit 310. Speed limit through work zone reduced to 60 mph.

Giles County

U.S. 460 – Paving. Westbound lane closures in place, beginning west of Route 42 (mile marker 22) and ending at Route 730 (mile marker 26.5).

Greensville County

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

Hampton

Interstate 664 at I-64 – Rehabilitating bulkhead at bridge on northbound I-664 flyover ramp to westbound I-64. Prepare for traffic shift to the right lane after Powhatan Parkway (Exit 2).

Portsmouth

Interstate 264 – Right lanes closed both directions between Portsmouth Boulevard and Effingham Street for construction of the new Martin Luther King (MLK) Extension. Two lanes open to traffic. 

Richmond

U.S. 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 westbound I-64 remains closed. Follow posted detour.

Roanoke

Interstate 581 – Constructing diverging-diamond interchange. Northbound right lane closed from 10th Street to Liberty Road approaching Valley View Mall. Shoulders closed, barricade walls in place. All lanes on Valley View Boulevard will be open.

Rockbridge County

I-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.

Westmoreland County

Route 205 – Replacing bridge on James Monroe Highway over Mattox Creek. Temporary signals directing single traffic lane on bridge.        

Wythe County

Interstate 77/I-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.