This Labor Day, the Virginia Department of Transportation is lifting lane closures to help drivers have a safe and speedy holiday.
Starting from noon Friday (Aug. 31) to noon Sept. 4, most highway work zones will be suspended and lane closures will be lifted on interstates and major roads across Virginia.
However, while most lane closures will be lifted, VDOT said that motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones — such as the Interstate 64 widening project — that will remain in place. A full list of those lane closures can be found online.
VDOT also recommends that drivers use the travel-trends maps that provides information on peak congestion periods on Virginia roadways. Information on the maps is drawn from the previous year’s travel data, so while it can’t precisely predict congestion, the maps can give anestimate of when to avoid high traffic times.
Based on data from Labor Day weekend 2017, VDOT is predicting moderate to heavy congestion between noon and 6 p.m. Friday and Monday. Additionally, routes to Virginia Beach are most likely to be congested mid-morning to evening on Saturday.
VDOT is also warning drivers to be safe on the road with these tips:
- If you plan to drink, have a designated driver.
- Buckle up.
- Keep your eyes on the road.
- Take a break if you are drowsy.
- Don’t drive distracted, and speak up if someone else is doing so.
For Hampton Roads, VDOT has listed a series of travel schedule information:
- I-64/I-264/I-564 HOV diamond lanes: HOV Restrictions and 64 Express Lanes tolling will be lifted on Monday (Sept. 3).
- I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel: Local traffic to Virginia Beach is encouraged to use the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) as an alternative to the HRBT. If traveling 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 the Outer Banks: Local traffic to the North Carolina’s 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/I-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.
For more up-to-date information about traffic, the Highway Advisory Radio is available on 1680 AM.
To report a road problem or get answers to your transportation questions, call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) around the clock.
