Harrisonburg, VA, September 17, 2026 — A section of Southbound Interstate 81 (I-81) near Staunton will experience an overnight closure. The closure is scheduled to begin on Saturday, September 19, at 10 p.m. and is expected to last until 4 a.m. on Sunday, September 20.

The temporary closure is necessary to facilitate the installation of a new overhead sign structure. This work is a component of a larger, ongoing project to widen Interstate 81. The interstate widening project aims to improve traffic flow and infrastructure along this critical corridor.

Traffic management plans are expected to be in place during the closure period. Motorists planning to travel southbound on I-81 in the vicinity of Staunton during these hours should anticipate detours and potential delays. Specific detour routes, if applicable, were not detailed in the provided summary.

The installation of the sign structure is a planned phase of the interstate widening effort. Further details regarding the scope and timeline of the overall interstate widening project were not provided. The contractor responsible for the work was not named, and the permit status for the closure was not specified.

Officials have advised drivers to seek alternate routes or adjust travel times to avoid the closure area. The work is weather-dependent, and while the closure is scheduled, any changes due to unforeseen circumstances were not communicated. The exact duration of the widening project itself was also not specified.


Story summarized from the original created by Olivia Williams on www.whsv.com, see more information here.

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