Improve I-81: Resolution of Support
The VA West Business and Legislative Coalition urges the Governor and General Assembly to create funding solutions to improve Interstate 81, recognizing:
- Quality transportation infrastructure is directly linked to economic development.
- Businesses, commuters, students, and visitors depend on reliable roadways to travel and conduct business safely and efficiently.
- I-81 supports 42 percent of statewide interstate truck vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
- I-81 carries 11.7 million trucks and $312 billion in goods per year.
- The loss of one lane on I-81 leads to 65 percent reduction in highway capacity.
- Incident clearance times on I-81 often exceed six hours, resulting in high vehicle hours of delay and negative economic impacts.
- Increased lane capacity on I-81 costs approximately $10 million per mile per direction, and additional revenue is needed to support meaningful improvements.