RICHMOND, Va. – School’s out for summer and it’s time to hit the road to favorite holiday destinations. To keep travelers focused on the Fourth of July fun-in-the-sun and fireworks instead of traffic, the Virginia Department of Transportation will be suspending most highway work zones and lifting most lane closures on interstates and other major roads in Virginia from noon on Monday, July 3 until noon on Wednesday, July 5.  

While lane closures will be lifted in most locations, motorists may encounter semi-permanent work zones that remain in place during this time. Check VDOT’s Weekly Lane Closures and Travel Advisories for the latest travel alerts in your area and around the state.

Additionally, VDOT offers several resources to help plan travel ahead of time.

TRAVEL TRENDS MAP HELPS PREDICT PEAK CONGESTION 

Based on historical data, VDOT’s online, interactive travel trends map shows peak congestion periods anticipated on Virginia interstates during the upcoming Fourth of July holiday period. While it cannot precisely predict when congestion will occur this year, it can help motorists avoid travel when roads have historically been busiest.

Based on the historical traffic data:

  • Periods of moderate to heavy congestion will likely occur on Friday, June 30, between noon and 6 p.m.
  • Routes to and from Virginia Beach are also likely to be congested on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 from mid-morning to evening, especially near the tunnels.
  • Interstate 95 and Interstate 395, in both directions, are expected to be congested for the entire travel period.

Heavy congestion is expected on Friday, June 30 and Saturday, July 1 on I-77 northbound from midday to evening.

PLAN AHEAD WITH VDOT 511: REAL-TIME TRAFFIC INFO AT YOUR FINGERTIPS 

VDOT’s free mobile 511 app offers information about construction, traffic, incidents and congestion as well as access to traffic cameras, weather, EV charging stations and more. Use 511’s “speak ahead” option to alert you to incidents on your route.

Traffic information is also available at 511Virginia.org or by calling 511 from any phone.