Interstate 81 Exit 19 Safety Project Coming Soon

A three point seven million dollar road safety project in Abingdon is slated to begin soon and when complete is expected to improve safety at Interstate 81 at exit 19. The project includes realigning a portion of Empire Drive, widening a curve along the southbound off ramp, and adding traffic signals at the intersection of newly aligned Empire Drive and Route 11, and where Route 11 intersects with the end of exit 19 southbound ramps. The project, anticipated to be complete in the summer of 2022 is also expected to improve how traffic merges onto southbound I-81. Periodic short term lane closures will be necessary during construction and VDOT urges motorists to be alert to flaggers and lane closures.