Dewberry, a privately held professional services firm, has announced the completion of the design for the latest phase of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) I-81 improvement project. Dewberry, as part of the Archer Western design-build team, began working on the project in May 2021, widening I-81 through southwest Virginia, between mile markers 136.6 and 141.8 within the city of Salem and Roanoke County. Once complete, the project will also include three bridge replacements and two bridge widenings. Dewberry is serving as the project’s lead designer.
In April 2024, a major milestone was reached as traffic shifted to the new southbound roadway alignment and bridge over Route 112. Previously in December 2023, the construction phase reached a similar milestone with the completion and traffic shift to the new northbound roadway alignment and bridge over Route 112. This bridge and interchange were the most challenging of the project due to elevation changes, geology of the area, and new foundations that were installed adjacent to the existing bridge.
“This is a momentous opportunity for our team to aid the Roanoke and Salem communities with safer and more efficient transportation infrastructure,” says Dewberry Senior Associate and Senior Project Manager Matt Thomas, PE. “We are proud of the hard work the design and construction teams have completed to date.”
