AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (ROCKTOWN NOW) – Accessing Interstate-81 Rest Areas in Augusta County will soon be easier and safer.

In a video promoting the Virginia Department of Transportation’s “Improve 81” initiative, Spokesman Ken Slack says that road crews plan to extend merging lanes around the rest areas in Mount Sidney, giving drivers more time to reach interstate speeds before entering or exiting I-81.

“To accommodate the lane extensions, a nearby bridge along Buttermilk Rd. needs to be replaced,” Slack said in the video. “This will require a full closure of the bridge and a detour of local traffic.”

Slack adds that by combining these projects and closing the bridge during construction, VDOT can work more safely and efficiently.

For more details on the “Improve 81” initiative, visit Improve81.org.