U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) sent a letter this week to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao urging the agency to approve a grant application from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
The application would be used to enhance safety and reduce traffic congestion along Interstate 81 (I-81). It will take approximately $4 billion to improve I-81 according to VDOT, but only half will be covered by gas tax increases and increased truck registration fees.
“While improvements have been made in past years to keep up with the growth, I-81 continues to experience heavy congestion and dangerous conditions, which have degraded the corridor,” the letter said. “The proposal put forth by VDOT will undoubtedly transform and improve the lives of many Virginians who travel the interstate every day. Furthermore, upgrades and repairs will improve the safety of those traveling through the Commonwealth.”
The senators also sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works asking the committee to include funding for high-priority interstate improvement projects in the next surface transportation bill.
Approximately half of goods and one-third of all trucks that drive through Virginia use I-81.
More than 2,000 crashes occur annually along the route because of congestion.