VDOT updates Smyth County supervisors on I‑81 corridor, roundabout and local repairs

Matthew Lewis, acting interstate manager for VDOT’s Bristol District, told the Smyth County Board of Supervisors the agency held a July 16 public engagement meeting for the I‑81 corridor improvement plan and is beginning project identification for future years. Lewis said the residency handles maintenance for Smyth and Washington counties and listed recent work including dead animal collection, shoulder repair, culvert cleaning and pothole patching.

Lewis reported results from recent storm work: Hurricane Helene initially produced 82 sites for attention, 53 of which are complete, with one site left to pave and three under 50% complete. He said the February flood produced 12 sites in Smyth County; seven are finished and the remainder are between about 40% and 80% complete.

On capital projects, Lewis said the north roundabout was completed in July and the south roundabout is in the right‑of‑way phase with a planned completion in August 2027. He said a lane extension at the Exit 45.5 interchange is set to be advertised and that the Route 349 bridge is in development for future replacement. Lewis also described latex surface treatments and rural “rustic” route planning for secondary roads, and said staff are reworking the county’s six‑year plan to align funding for those efforts.

Supervisors and citizens asked VDOT to broaden public engagement beyond the single Bristol meeting, asked about a start date for the south roundabout, and raised concerns about pavement cracking on northbound I‑81 and undermined pavement on local secondary roads. Lewis committed to follow up with the board on the roundabout start date and specific site answers, and said VDOT would provide traffic and project details on request.