Virginia dismisses team hired to fix I-81 congestion

The Associated Press

1/18/2008

RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia officials have dismissed a construction team brought in to relieve congestion and heavy truck traffic on Interstate 81.

A Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman said Wednesday that dismissal of Star Solutions will not necessarily delay work on the highway.

VDOT spokesman Jeff Caldwell said environmental studies have been conducted since the state chose the team in February 2004, but it had not specified details for a long-term widening project.

He said I-81 improvement projects totaling $730 million through 2013 will stay on track.

The lead contractor, KBR Inc., told VDOT last month it was pulling out of the partnership. After severing ties with parent company Halliburton in April, KBR said it had to “manage its business profile very carefully.”