WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced last week that Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) will receive two Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loans totaling up to $89.7 million from the Build America Bureau. The package funds vital capacity and safety upgrades along 325 rural miles of I-81, a key East Coast freight route carrying 43% of Virginia’s interstate truck traffic.
The projects will transform I-81 by:
- Adding dedicated truck climbing lanes in Washington County and Augusta County, allowing slow-moving heavy trucks to climb steep hills without blocking passenger cars
- Fixing dangerous merging bottlenecks by extending exit ramps in Wythe County and adding merge lanes around Wytheville to give drivers more room to speed up or slow down safely
- Replacing aging bridges over Peppers Ferry Road and the I-81 northbound bridge over I-77 to guarantee long-term corridor reliability.
The package supports Virginia’s $4 billion I-81 Corridor Improvement Program, which is projected to generate $5.2 billion in economic activity, supporting regional growth and job creation. Construction on many projects is already underway, with completion slated for late 2035.
“By securing a TIFIA loan at half the standard interest rate, the Commonwealth of Virginia is delivering these critical improvements faster and more affordably,” said Build America Bureau Executive Director Morteza Farajian. “By cutting interest costs in half and stretching taxpayer dollars, this project serves as a national blueprint. It proves that innovative financing can help rural communities deliver vital corridor improvements faster while freeing up resources for future infrastructure needs.”
“As a vital commercial corridor not only for Virginia but the entire east coast, additional travel lanes, new bridges and interchange improvements are enhancing safety and reducing congestion on I-81,” said Virginia Transportation Secretary Nick Donohue. “The TIFIA loans will help Virginia stretch its transportation dollars and continue building the interstate corridor all travelers deserve.”
Bruce Guthrie is an award-winning journalist who has lived in three states including Arkansas, Missouri and Georgia. During his nearly 20-year career, Bruce has served as managing editor and sports editor for numerous publications. He and his wife, Dana, who is also a journalist, are based in Carrollton, Georgia.
