Virginia Considers Possibility Of Separate Interstate For Trucks

Considered a federal test case for a new interstate system devoted to separating truck traffic from automobile traffic on the nation’s highways, Virginia is considering a plan to build a parallel road along its I-81 corridor solely for trucks. I-81, which extends 824 miles from central Tennessee to the Canadian borders, runs 325 miles along the western portion of Virginia through some of the state’s most treasured landscapes. Champions of the plan say it would reduce conflicts between cars and trucks, making the roads safer. Opponents of the plan are concerned about the effects the new road would have on the scenic and historical significance of the rural communities along the corridor. Others are worried that the tolls imposed on the new roadway would send truck traffic to other state arteries, already heavily traveled. “What ultimately happens here will have profound implications for one of Virginia's most treasured landscapes, truck traffic in the Washington region and how goods are moved across the nation in the coming decades.”

Thanks to Janet Boyko