I-81 overnight ramp closures shift from Exit 140 to Exit 137

Drivers using Interstate 81 around Salem and the Roanoke Valley should watch for a change in overnight ramp closures during the first half of the week.

VDOT's current Salem District RoadWatch says the southbound Exit 140 off- and on-ramps may be closed from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. through June 22. The work then shifts to the northbound Exit 137 off-ramp, which is listed for overnight closure from June 22 through June 24, also from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The ramp work is part of continuing I-81 construction and paving in the Salem area. VDOT says nighttime lane closures, narrowed ramps and periodic slow rolls remain possible elsewhere in the corridor, with electronic message boards used for schedule and detour updates.

• What to know: The Exit 140 closure window ends as the Exit 137 closure window begins.
• Who is affected: Overnight commuters, freight traffic, airport and hospital workers and travelers connecting through Salem and Roanoke.
• Driver action: Check 511 Virginia before departure, follow posted detours and allow additional time.

Construction schedules are weather dependent, so drivers should rely on message boards and 511 for the final nightly configuration.

Source: Reporting based on VDOT's Salem District RoadWatch for June 12-26, 2026, checked June 21, 2026.