Rock blasting on Interstate 81 is about to increase from four days a week to five — but not until next week. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones.
[audio:http://wfirnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/08-31-Blasting-Wrap1-WEB1.mp3|titles=08-31 Blasting Wrap1-WEB]
Crews have been blasting away Mondays through Thursdays in recent months, leaving 81 alone on Fridays because traffic is so heavy on summer weekends. But once we get past Labor Day, the work will go on Fridays as well. That means another day each week of temporary southbound detours onto US 11/460 and frequent backups when that occurs. The work is necessary to add a third lane on portions of the highway as it heads up to Christiansburg. The blasting will continue into next spring.
