LOCATION AND DESIGN PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR INTERSTATE 81 EXIT 19 IMPROVEMENTS

LOCATION AND DESIGN PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR INTERSTATE 81 EXIT 19 IMPROVEMENTS

Tuesday, July 17 from 4 - 6 p.m. at Abingdon High School

BRISTOL – Next week, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a location and design public hearing for improvements to the Interstate 81 exit 19 interchange in the Abingdon area of Washington County.

The public hearing will be held Tuesday, July 17 from 4-6 p.m. at Abingdon High School, located at 705 Thompson Drive in Abingdon.

The purpose of the meeting is to give citizens an opportunity to review the proposed project plans that include improvements to the exit 19 on and off ramps; realign a portion of Empire Drive; add traffic signals at two locations; improve how traffic merges onto southbound I-81; add turn lanes to Route 11 at the northbound off ramp; and widen a curve along the southbound off ramp.

VDOT encourages all interested citizens to attend the information meeting. To give citizens more flexibility in their participation, there will be no formal presentation. Instead, citizens will be able to review plans with VDOT representatives at their convenience anytime between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.

Also, citizens will have an opportunity to record verbal comments for the official record anytime during the meeting. Written comments will be accepted during the meeting or may be submitted to VDOT by July 27, 2018.  Mail comments to Mr. Jim Jones, Project Manager, 870 Bonham Road, Bristol, Virginia 24201. Or, email comments to bristolinfo@vdot.virginia.gov, referencing “Interstate 81 Exit 19 improvements” in the email subject line.

For additional information, or if you require special assistance to participate in the meeting, please call the VDOT’s Bristol District office at (276) 669-6151 or device for hearing impaired (TTY) at 711.    

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