<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0UAXdp_1E7HgdGs00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0UAXdp_1E7HgdGs00" width="700" height="394" >RADFORD, Va. – A stretch of Interstate 81 connecting Pulaski County and Radford has been under construction since the fall of 2016, and at least one area resident wants answers about why a $62.2 million project is still not finished.The New River Bridge project replaced two bridges: the Route 232 bridge at Exit 105 in Radford and the northbound I-81 bridge, which was originally built in 1965. Support beams for I-81 North have since been replaced, but construction on the shoulders remains ongoing.Chuck Long, a lifelong Snowville resident, reached out to the WSLS Help Desk after watching the project stretch far beyond its original timeline.“It was supposed to be a four-year project and we’re ten years into it now and it’s still not finished,” Long said. “I’d like to get some understanding of why it’s not completed.”<h2>A project years behind schedule</h2>The Virginia Department of Transportation says the project’s scheduled completion date of 2020 was not met due to a variety of issues the contractor encountered during construction. The most recent delay stems from problems with the riding surface in the final stages of completion.“The contractor and their engineers have been gathering information and developed a corrective action plan,” said Jenna Zibton, Salem District Communications Manager for VDOT. “VDOT has continued to enforce the terms of the contract to assure that the standards of quality are met.”Long described a conversation with a construction crew member years ago that raised concerns about the project’s structural integrity.“The person told me there’s discussions of taking it all the way down and starting again because there were problems with the steel and problems with the concrete that was in the piers,” Long said.Adding to the frustration, Long says crews recently repaved both lanes — only to tear one back up shortly after.“They repaved the whole two lanes, and now they’ve gone back and dug up one of the lanes,” he said. “What happened in that first process that it wasn’t good, that they’re redoing it? And if it wasn’t good on half of it, then why is the other half good?”VDOT confirmed the riding surface on the unopened portion of the bridge is uneven and said the overall structure remains safe for traffic. Per the corrective action plan, the contractor is bringing in specialized subcontractors that routinely make these types of bridge surface modifications.<h2>What about the southbound bridge?</h2>Long says he was under the impression the project would eventually replace both bridges.“We thought, okay, we’ll complete it in four years and then they’ll start on the other one,” he said. “And at this point there’s no plan that I understand of completing the other bridge.”VDOT confirmed the southbound bridge was not included in this project. According to Zibton, construction of the new northbound bridge involved building a portion of it in the median, then switching traffic onto the new section in April 2022. The remainder of the new bridge was then constructed, and the old bridge was demolished in September 2023.<h2>Impact on drivers</h2>Long says the prolonged construction affects everyone who travels the corridor — not just locals.“Even people that come to visit us are like, ‘Why has this bridge been under construction for ten years? Why do I go from 70 miles an hour to 55 or 60 miles an hour?’” he said.He pointed to other major projects as a comparison. “The huge bridge at Jupiter Inlet was a massive project. It was a four-year project, and it’s completed. And here we go again — we’re 10 years and we’re still not driving on a completed bridge.”Long also noted at least one visible improvement along the way. “The ramps on the northbound side have gotten a lot better. They just extended it, so that’s a really nice improvement to the system.”VDOT says the finished product will be worth the wait. “When the project is completed, you’re going to have a roadway surface that is smooth and has proper drainage to ensure long-term use,” Zibton said. “The project team is committed to assuring a safe, long-term, durable product for drivers.”</div></body>

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RADFORD, Va. – A stretch of Interstate 81 connecting Pulaski County and Radford has been under construction since the fall of 2016, and at least one area resident wants answers about why a $62.2 million project is still not finished. The New River Bridge project replaced two bridges: the...

New River Bridge still under construction after 10 years

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