As part of the ongoing Interstate 81 widening project in and around the City of Salem, a nighttime lane and ramp closure on the southbound side of I-81 are scheduled for Thursday, May 23. This is so a barrier wall can be repositioned, and traffic can be switched to a new pattern.
Weather permitting, starting at 8 p.m. tonight, southbound I-81 will be reduced to one lane between mile markers 138 and 136 until 5 a.m. on Friday, May 24. In addition, the ramp from southbound I-81 onto Wildwood Road at exit 137 also will be closed until 5 a.m.
If the traffic pattern change cannot be made because of weather, the lane and ramp closure will be rescheduled for the following week on Tuesday, May 28 from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29. Once the barrier wall has been moved, southbound I-81 traffic using the exit 137 off ramp will be shifted into a new pattern and traveling on a different portion of roadway.