Roundabout fixes traffic problems in parts of Botetourt County

Largest interchange in region

BOTETOURT COUNTY, Va. – Major traffic changes are coming to exit 150 on Interstate 81 in Botetourt County. VDOT will debut a new roundabout, moving Botetourt County in a new direction.

There are several other changes for drivers as well. 

"Exit 150B is going to have a direct turn lane onto Route 220 and that will have no signal. It will be like an elongated off ramp onto Route 220. So you will get off the exit and you will continue to the right all the way until you're on Route 220," said Jen Ward, of VDOT's, Salem Office.

Ward says the improvements are designed to take more speed, larger vehicles and move traffic more consistently.

"The design of the project has been focused on that and helping to make traffic flow through this interchange. It's a busy interchange, there's a lot happening. We have primary routes all intersecting together," said Ward.

VDOT says this is one of the busiest interchanges in the region.
    
"We chose this because it results in a 35 percent reduction in crashes. And one of the functions of that is because it is free-flowing,"

The mayor of Troutville says he's excited about the changes for many reasons

"Hopefully it will help with a little business, to get different ones into town," said Mayor David Horton. 

There will also be a new ramp from Route 11 onto northbound I-81 accessible through the roundabout. And the current northbound on-ramp to I-81 directly from Route 220 will close.

"What we had before wasn't working. So this is a different type of project," said Ward.

The roundabout will open overnight on Saturday and into Sunday morning.

Resources for drivers on how to use the roundabout, including graphics and videos, and more information about the project are available on VDOT’s website