VDOT offers tools to make summer travel easier

If summer travel is in your plans, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is ready to help with mobile tools to keep you informed while you are on the go. You can find real-time information about traffic, incidents and congestion on Virginia roads at 511Virginia.

Download the free mobile VDOT 511 app for Apple and Android devices to stay connected, or visit http://www.511Virginia.org Motor.ists also can reach 511Virginia by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia. Don’t drive distracted – please have your passengers make the call if you are driving or pull off the road to make the call yourself.

VDOT Lifts Lane Closures over Memorial Day Holiday
VDOT will suspend most highway work zones for several days over the Memorial Day holiday travel period to limit congestion and provide as many travel lanes as possible.

VDOT will lift lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon Friday, May 22, to noon Tuesday, May 26.

Travel Trend Map Shows When, Where to Avoid Peak Congestion
VDOT can help you avoid peak congestion times during the Memorial Day travel period. You can plan your arrival and departure times over the five-day travel period by using VDOT’s map of past travel trends for Virginia interstates.

VDOT has a map online that shows peak congestion periods on Virginia interstates during the three previous Memorial Day weekends (2012-2014).

The travel-trend map is available on the Virginia Roads website, located at http://www.virginiaroads.org (lower right on bottom of home page).

The map indicates varying amounts of interstate traffic by time of day, using red for heavy congestion, yellow for moderate congestion and green for little or no congestion.

To use the map, slide the button along the date bar at the top of the map to update predicted traffic information at half-hour intervals between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. for each day. You also can zoom and pan to specific areas of the state.

Based on the traffic data, periods of heavy congestion on the most recent Memorial Day weekends was most likely to occur between noon and 7 p.m. on Friday and Monday.

Historically, heavy congestion is present on Interstate 95 southbound and Interstate 64 eastbound from Saturday morning to Saturday afternoon.

While the map shows trends for delays during the most recent Memorial Day holidays, it cannot precisely predict congestion levels for this year’s five-day travel period.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA HIGH OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (HOV) SCHEDULE AND OTHER INFORMATION:

·      Friday, May 22: Normal HOV-3 restrictions are in effect. Interstate 395 and 95 Express Lanes reversible lanes will be southbound starting at noon.
·      Saturday, May 23: I-395 reversible lanes and 95 Express Lanes remain southbound until 2 p.m. and switch to northbound by 4 p.m.
·      Sunday, May 24: I-395 reversible lanes and 95 Express Lanes will be closed from 7 a.m. to approximately 11 a.m. for the Rolling Thunder motorcycle ride. When the lanes re-open, they will remain northbound for the remainder of the day.
·      Monday, May 25: HOV restrictions on Interstate 66 and I-395 are lifted. I-395 reversible lanes and 95 Express Lanes remain northbound all day.
More information on Northern Virginia HOV schedules can be found at http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/hov-novasched.asp.

For information on 95 Express Lanes and 495 Express Lanes, visit http://www.expresslanes.com Drive.rs are reminded that they need an E-ZPass Flex (for HOV-3 to ride toll-free) or an E-ZPass to use the lanes at all times.

HAMPTON ROADS HOV SCHEDULE, TUNNELS AND OTHER INFORMATION:

·      Interstate 64/Interstate 264/Interstate 564 HOV diamond lanes – HOV restrictions will be lifted on all HOV diamond lanes on Monday, May 25.

·      I-64 reversible lanes − Lanes will operate on the regular schedule with no HOV restrictions on Monday, May 25.

I-64 Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) – Motorists traveling to Virginia Beach are encouraged to use the Interstate 664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) as an alternative to the HRBT. To Virginia Beach, take I-664 south to the MMMBT. Then take the Portsmouth/Norfolk exit (exit 15A) to Interstate 264 east to Virginia Beach.

·      Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) – Tune to 1680 AM to stay informed on Hampton Roads traffic, travel conditions and construction information.

WORK ZONES AND OTHER TRAFFIC ALERTS

While VDOT will lift most lane closures during the Memorial Day holiday period, motorists may encounter permanent work zones or travel delays in the following locations:

Amherst County
Route 501/Route 130 – Traffic controls and flaggers in use during construction.

Ashland
Route 54 – Travel on bridge over I-95 remains limited to one lane each direction for bridge replacement.

Augusta County
Route 250 (Hankey Mountain Highway) – Traffic restricted to one lane for bridge replacement at White Oak Draft, about 11 miles west of Staunton. Temporary traffic signal in operation. Traffic also restricted to one lane for bridge replacement at Calfpasture River, about 15 miles west of Staunton. Temporary traffic signal in operation.

Botetourt County
Interstate 81:
·      Replacing Route 608 bridge over interstate near mile marker 170. Work under bridge requires lane closures both directions, Sundays-Thursdays, 10 p.m.-6 a.m., at various times. Detour signs directing traffic on Route 608 (Indian Rock Road).

·      Daytime lane closures may be in place on Route 676 over I-81 for bridge repairs. Shoulder paving to be done 10 p.m.-6 a.m., Sunday−Thursday, with travel lane on I-81 closed.
Bristol
Interstate 81 – Improving interchange at exit 7. Expect delays. Motorists can use exits 5 and 10 to avoid work zone to access area roads and businesses.

Carroll County
Route 58 – Improving road between Laurel Fork and Meadows of Dan. Periodic lane closures, 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., with flagging crews directing traffic. Watch for changes in traffic pattern and trucks entering, exiting highway.

Charles City County
Route 5 – Replacing bridge over Herring Creek. Traffic directed by temporary signal.

Dinwiddie County
Interstate 85 – Left southbound lane closed at mile marker 58 for paving through the weekend.

Essex County
Route 17 − Improving drainage, from just south of Airport Road near June Parker Marina to just north of Marsh Street. Traffic reduced to one lane both directions.

Henry County
Route 58 − Weather permitting, starting May 18, westbound traffic will be detoured to eastbound Route 58. One traffic lane will remain open each direction. Twelve-foot lane-width restriction. Speed limit 45 mph in work zone.

Madison County
Route 231 – Replacing bridge over Mulatto Run. Traffic restricted to one lane controlled by temporary signals.

Montgomery County
Route 8 – Single-lane closure on Route 8 (Riner Road) near Route 699 (Fairview Church Road) for work related to commercial development.

Prince Edward County
Route 15 – One lane closed for structure work over railroad near Charlotte County line. Temporary signal in place.

Richmond
Route 360 − Travel remains limited to two lanes on Mechanicsville Turnpike over I-64 for bridge deck replacement, with one travel lane each direction.

Rockbridge County
Interstate 64: Eastbound traffic will detour across the median to the westbound side of interstate between mile markers 53.3 and 55.3. Traffic both directions will use westbound Maury River bridge during rehabilitation of eastbound bridge. Speed limit 55 mph.
Wythe County

Interstate 77/Interstate 81 overlap – High traffic volumes could slow or stop vehicles through this eight-mile stretch. Be alert to delays on northbound I-77 at the I-81 merge.

Motorist Safety Tips
VDOT encourages all motorists to do their part to prevent highway crashes by following these safety tips while driving:

·      Buckle up

·      Avoid distractions

·      Share the road

·      Drive drug- and alcohol-free

·      Obey speed limits

Additional Travel Tools
Lane closures and incident reports available on 511 also are communicated through VDOT’s Twitter accounts, targeted for different regions of Virginia and specific interstate corridors, such as Interstate 95 or Interstate 81.

Visit http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/vdot_twitter_feeds.asp for a list of VDOT’s Twitter accounts and information on how to subscribe.

Follow your region (511 traffic feeds):

§  Northern – @511northernva

§  Hampton Roads – @511hamptonroads

§  Central – @511centralva

§  Northwest – @511northwestva

§  Southwest – @511southwestva

Follow your district:

§  Bristol – @VaDOTBristol

§  Culpeper – @VaDOTCULP

§  Lynchburg – @VaDOTLynchburg

§  Fredericksburg – @VaDOTFRED

§  Hampton Roads – @VaDOTHR

§  Northern Virginia – @VaDOTNOVA

§  Richmond – @VaDOTRVA

§  Salem – @VaDOTSalem

§  Staunton – @VaDOTStaunton

VDOT’s Customer Service Center
To report a road hazard or get answers to your transportation questions, call VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 800-FOR-ROAD (800-367-7623) around the clock.

For information about major long-term construction projects on Virginia’s interstates and primary roads, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/travel/major_road_construction_projects.asp for VDOT’s interactive “Road Construction Ahead” map.

E-ZPass
Virginia belongs to the E-ZPass electronic toll-collection network. E-ZPass customers can use their transponders at toll facilities in Virginia and 14 other states. For more information on E-ZPass, visit http://www.ezpassva.com