SALEM – Drivers now have more room to accelerate and enter Interstate 81 with two new ramp extensions recently opened in the New River Valley.
The I-81 southbound 94 entrance ramp (VA99 – Pulaski) in Pulaski County was extended about 950 feet, helping drivers reach near-interstate speed while merging into traffic.
The I-81 northbound 105 entrance ramp (Radford) in Montgomery County was extended about 2,000 feet. Because the shoulder was converted to an active travel lane next to a near-vertical rock slope, a unique feature of this entrance ramp is a rock drape to reduce the likelihood of falling rocks reaching the travel lanes and enhancing safety for drivers.
This is the first time a rock drape has been used on I-81.
The drape consists of high-strength wire mesh panels laid over the rock slope and tied together both vertically and horizontally to form a continuous cover. The system is anchored into bedrock at the top of the slope and allowed to drape freely down to the bottom.
This design slows the movement of any falling rocks from underneath the drape, causing them to hit the mesh, lose momentum, and fall into a new ditch, preventing them from bouncing into the road. The drape blends into the slope, and because it lays directly on the rock surface, it does not impede sight distance.
Construction started in fall 2025 on both of these projects. The acceleration lane extension projects are two of several safety improvement projects planned along the I-81 corridor to lengthen existing acceleration lanes.
The entrance ramp from Route 11 onto northbound Interstate 81 at exit 162 (Buchanan) in Botetourt County is also being extended about 1,000 feet along with the installation of drainage structures and the construction of a retaining wall alongside the slope. Work is expected to be completed in late 2026.
These projects are part of the I-81 Corridor Improvement Program (CIP) to unlock I-81 by enhancing safety and reliability, reducing congestion and supporting economic growth. The $4 billion CIP includes 65 construction projects plus operational improvements along the 325 miles of I-81 in Virginia. Find out more at Improve81.org. The website includes interactive maps, videos and podcasts, and details about upcoming and current projects.
VDOT
