Monday, September 9, 2024

VDOT is lifting some lane closures ahead of the Labor Day holiday weekend

Interstate highway traffic (Southside Daily file photo)
Interstate highway traffic (WYDaily file photo)

Monday is Labor Day and VDOT is lifting lane closures to help motorists have a safe and speedy holiday.

Starting from noon Friday to noon Tuesday, 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 motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that will remain in place.
A full listing of those lane closures can be found on VDOT’s website.

Travel-trend maps

VDOT’s online, interactive travel-trends map shows peak congestion periods on Virginia interstates during the three previous Labor Day holiday periods.

While it cannot precisely predict when congestion will occur this year, it can help motorists avoid travel when roads have historically been busiest.

VDOT’s travel-trends map helps predict congestion and takes some of the guesswork out of planning travel. (Southside Daily/courtesy of VDOT)
VDOT’s travel-trends map helps predict congestion and takes some of the guesswork out of planning travel. (WYDaily/courtesy of VDOT)

Hampton Roads

Here’s some information about Hampton Roads lane changes, tunnels and other information.

  • I-64/I-264/I-564 HOV Diamond Lanes and 64 Express Lanes – HOV restrictions and express lanes tolls will be lifted on Monday, Sept. 2; HOV restrictions are not enforced on Sundays. The 64 Express Lanes in Norfolk are free of charge and open to motorists outside of normal operating hours, including Sundays.
  • I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel – Local traffic to Virginia Beach is encouraged to use the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel 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 Outer Banks – Local traffic to the North Carolina 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.

Northern Virginia

Here’s some information about the Northern Virginia High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Schedule as well as some information about express lanes.

  • On Monday, Sept. 2, HOV restrictions on I-66 and I-395 and rush hour tolls on the 66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway will be lifted.
  • Go online to find directional schedules for the reversible 95 Express Lanes.

Stay Safe

Be cautious behind the wheel. Do your part to make travel safer for all:
  • 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.

Real-time traffic information

VDOT’s free mobile 511 app, available online, offers information about construction, traffic, incidents and congestion as well as access to traffic cameras, weather and more.
Traffic information is also available at 511Virginia.org, or by calling 511 from any phone.
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.
John Mangalonzo
John Mangalonzohttp://wydaily.com
John Mangalonzo (john@localdailymedia.com) is the managing editor of Local Voice Media’s Virginia papers – WYDaily (Williamsburg), Southside Daily (Virginia Beach) and HNNDaily (Hampton-Newport News). Before coming to Local Voice, John was the senior content editor of The Bellingham Herald, a McClatchy newspaper in Washington state. Previously, he served as city editor/content strategist for USA Today Network newsrooms in St. George and Cedar City, Utah. John started his professional journalism career shortly after graduating from Lyceum of The Philippines University in 1990. As a rookie reporter for a national newspaper in Manila that year, John was assigned to cover four of the most dangerous cities in Metro Manila. Later that year, John was transferred to cover the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines. He spent the latter part of 1990 to early 1992 embedded with troopers in the southern Philippines as they fought with communist rebels and Muslim extremists. His U.S. journalism career includes reporting and editing stints for newspapers and other media outlets in New York City, California, Texas, Iowa, Utah, Colorado and Washington state.

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