ROANOKE, Va. – Big changes are coming to the most-heavily traveled stretch of Interstate 81 in Roanoke County and drivers have the chance to weigh in.
VDOT is working on a plan to add a lane to both directions of I-81 between exit 141 in Salem and exit 143 in Roanoke.
The two-mile addition on both sides is expected to cost $62 million.
It would impact lots of drivers. VDOT representatives said as many as 70,000Â drivers use this section of the interstate every day.
"This project is mainly about alleviating congestion throughout that area and it's also about creating a safer environment for merging traffic and merging onto 581 as well as getting off at exits in that area where we see congestion," VDOT spokesperson Jen Ward said.
The public hearing is happening from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Northside High School.