I-81 Widening Lawsuit
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Updated: 7:48 AM Dec 19, 2007
I-81 Widening Lawsuit
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP)
Several conservation groups have filed suit to block plans to widen all 325 miles of Interstate 81 in Virginia.
Posted: 5:38 PM Dec 18, 2007
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Several conservation groups have filed suit to block plans to widen all 325 miles of Interstate 81 in Virginia.

The lawsuit was filed against the Federal Highway Administration in U.S. District Court to halt plans to widen I-81 and charge tolls on it.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board last year authorized a plan that calls for more lanes on certain stretches of the interstate to make it easier for trucks to climb hills.

But Megan Gallagher of the Shenandoah Valley Network, one of the groups that filed the lawsuit, said the Virginia Department of Transportation still insists that four new lanes are needed along 69 percent of the interstate.

VDOT officials say the agency only is pursuing plans authorized by the transportation board.


Latest Comments

Posted by: Frank Location: Harrisonburg on Dec 19, 2007 at 11:17 AM

Get off your horse & buggy and look around you. 1-81 is a death trap. Way too much traffic for the state it is in. Get a friend to take you out in a 'motor-vehicle' down the road a piece, and see for yourself. THEN have the friend take you to a "real" state, with "real" highways and you will be amazed, you really will. We are coming up on the year 2008 - the '40's are LONG GONE
Posted by: Sean Location: Weyers Cave on Dec 19, 2007 at 01:13 AM

I would agree with you Tom, they must not drive I-81 on a regular basis. I drive it every day the road is in need of widening. We need to start moving into the future and stop holding on to the past. Yes the Battle Grounds are nice but come on we need some serious help on the roads around here. That would also include a bypass around Harrisonburg
Posted by: Tim Location: Harrisonburg on Dec 18, 2007 at 09:47 PM

I drive all of the time between H'brg and Lexington and often get stuck behind trucks. We need to get the trucks on rail and passing lanes every few miles. We don't need an eight lane toll road through the Valley and more pollution.
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