WEYERS CAVE, VA (Rocktown Now) — On Wednesday, April 29, a controlled blast will remove large areas of rock in the median of Interstate 81 near the Augusta-Rockingham County line. The location is near mile marker 236 in the Weyers Cave area and will take place between 10am and 11am.

Just before the controlled blast, which may be audible in the Weyers Cave area, Virginia State Police will use a slow roll to briefly stop I-81 motorists near mile marker 232 northbound and mile marker 240 southbound. The northbound on-ramp from exit 235 and the southbound on-ramp from exit 240 will also be briefly closed during the blast.

A slow roll is a traffic management operation where a traffic gap is created by reducing approaching traffic speeds to as low as 10 mph. This gap allows work to safely take place free of live traffic. Traffic can also be temporarily stopped and held by a lead vehicle in each lane. Each slow roll operation typically lasts no more than 15 minutes.

The controlled blast is part of construction for the I-81 truck climbing lanes in the Weyers Cave area.

For updated traffic alerts and travel information dial 511, visit the 511 Virginia website or download the mobile app.