Guest: Ken Slack, Communications Specialist, VDOT Staunton District

Episode Summary

Host Janet Michael sits down with VDOT's Ken Slack to get the latest on road construction, pothole season, and a major trail feasibility study affecting the Shenandoah Valley. Recorded on a stormy "Tornado Monday," the two cover everything from orange barrels blowing away in high winds to a nearly 50-mile potential rail trail corridor.

Topics Covered

I-81 Southbound Widening at Strasburg

Project is approximately one-third complete and on schedule
Completion target: Fall 2028
New steel beams recently placed for a replacement bridge over Cedar Creek at the Shenandoah/Warren County line
A traffic shift onto the new bridge section is expected around August
Concrete barriers separate the work zone from traffic for safety

Winchester Interstate Improvements

Upcoming projects will be bundled into a design-build contract
Includes widening and improvements at the Exit 317 interchange (diverging diamond interchange)
Project divided into northern and southern segments due to scope
Construction still a couple of years away

Pothole Season

Peak season: late winter through early spring
Caused by the freeze-thaw cycle — water seeps into cracks, expands when frozen, contracts when thawed, eventually breaking up the surface
VDOT uses hot mix, cold mix, and warm mix patching — cold mix is temporary but can be applied year-round
Repeated potholes in the same area may trigger fuller road rehabilitation

How to Report a Pothole

Online: Search "MyVDOT" — mobile-friendly, easy to use
Phone: 800-FOR-ROAD
Reports go to real people at a customer service center, who create work orders for the nearest area headquarters

Road Salt & Bridge Preservation

Salt can cause corrosion in bridges, particularly at seams and joints
The Front Royal bridge over the South Fork Shenandoah River (completed ~2017) is the longest jointless structure in Virginia at ~1,900 feet — minimizing salt infiltration and extending its lifespan

Rail-with-Trail Feasibility Study

Nearly 50-mile former Norfolk Southern rail corridor from Broadway (northern Rockingham County) through Mount Jackson, Strasburg, and Woodstock to Front Royal
Study is examining both rail-to-trail conversion and rail-with-trail options (keeping the rail line active alongside a recreational trail)
Public meetings in April in Woodstock, Timberville, and Front Royal
Online survey also coming in early April
Final report will go to the Commonwealth Transportation Board

Resources & Links

VDOT website: vdot.virginia.gov
Report a pothole or road issue: Search MyVDOT
Real-time traffic & construction info: 511Virginia
VDOT customer service: 800-FOR-ROAD

On the Road with VDOT: Widening 81, Potholes, and the Rail Trail