Cell phone-free school community talk, Interstate 81 detours: THE DIGEST

Cell phone free education in Waynesboro

WAYNESBORO – The Virginia Department of Education will host a community conversation on cell phone-free education in Waynesboro.

The conversation follows Governor Glenn Youngkin's Executive Order 33 , which aims to reduce or eliminate cell phone usage in schools and limit the impact of smartphone use on K-12 students' mental health.

On July 31 at 10 a.m., the ongoing Commonwealth Conversations series on the topic is coming to Kate Collins Middle School. It is open for parents, educators, and any interested community member.

"Virginians who would like to register to join the conversation at these events, learn more about Executive Order 33, or share feedback about cell phone-free education, should visit the Cell Phone-Free Education in Virginia webpage," reads the press release.

SAW Housing Summit now available online

At the time of The News Leader's previous coverage , video of the SAW Housing Summit was not yet available.

Since then, the video has been uploaded to SAW Housing's website. Anyone interested in the local housing market will find specifics about Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro.

The video is available online here .

Interstate detours and slow-roll closures in Augusta County

Crews will be working on the Barterbrook Road bridge over Interstate 81 in Augusta County.

Contractors will use cranes to place steel girders over Interstate 81, near mile marker 221. Rather than close the interstate, crews use a "slow roll" traffic management operation, reducing speeds as low as 10 miles per hour to create gaps. The gaps will allow crews to safely work away from live traffic. Traffic might also be temporarily stopped and held by a lead vehicle in each lane.

"The Route 635 overpass bridge must be replaced as part of a project to construct a new auxiliary lane on southbound I-81 between exit 221 (I-64 junction) and exit 220 (Route 262 south)," reads the press release. "Route 635 in the area of the bridge over I-81 is closed through mid-2025 due to the bridge replacement."

The closure schedule is as follows:

Monday through Wednesday nights (July 29-31)

• The left lane of I-81 northbound and southbound will be closed from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. to allow staging of equipment, materials and personnel.
• Northbound I-81 will be fully closed from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. During this time, northbound I-81 drivers will detour at exit 220 onto Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) around Staunton and rejoin I-81 at exit 225. Northbound I-81 drivers who need to access I-64 eastbound at exit 221 will follow the detour route, then take I-81 southbound to exit 221.
• Each morning immediately following the full closures, the left lane of I-81 northbound will be closed from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.

Thursday night (August 1)

• The left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. to allow staging of equipment, materials and personnel.
• Between 11 p.m. at 5 a.m. southbound I-81 will be closed periodically, for no more than 20 minutes at a time. During these closures, Virginia State Police will manage slow-roll traffic control (rolling roadblocks) on southbound I-81 between exits 225 and 220, and westbound I-64 between exit 91 and the I-81 interchange.
• Immediately following the slow rolls, the left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. Friday.

Friday night (August 2)

• The left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. to allow staging of equipment, materials and personnel.
• Between 11 p.m. at 5 a.m. southbound I-81 will be closed periodically, for no more than 20 minutes at a time. During these closures, Virginia State Police will manage slow-roll traffic control (rolling roadblocks) on southbound I-81 between exits 225 and 220, and westbound I-64 between exit 91 and the I-81 interchange.
• Immediately following the slow rolls, the left lane of I-81 southbound will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. Saturday.

VDOT traffic alerts for the week of July 22 to July 26

STAUNTON – The following is a list of highway work that may affect traffic in the Staunton transportation district during the coming weeks. Scheduled work is subject to change due to inclement weather and material supplies. Motorists are advised to watch for slow-moving tractors during mowing operations. When traveling through a work zone, be alert to periodic changes in traffic patterns and lane closures.

INTERSTAT E 64

• No lane closures reported.

INTERSTATE 81

• Mile marker 205 to 211 , northbound – Overnight single lane closures for pavement resurfacing, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights through August 15.
• *UPDATE* Mile marker 207 to 210 , northbound – Right shoulder closures for shoulder repairs, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
• Mile marker 214 to 210 , southbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for milling and paving operations, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. through Thursday night. Exit 213 traffic will be detoured during ramp paving.
• *UPDATE* Mile marker 220 to 221 , northbound and southbound – Overnight southbound left-lane closures for equipment and materials staging, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights. Shoulders closed 24/7 for bridge replacement and roadway construction as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project. Work zone speed limit 60 miles an hour. Expected completion summer 2025.
• *NEW* Mile marker 221 to 222 , northbound – Overnight alternating lane closures for paving of bridge approaches, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. nights Monday through Thursday.
• Mile marker 221 to 227 , northbound and southbound – Right and left shoulder closures in place 24/7 through spring 2026. Work zone speed limit 60 miles an hour. Traffic restrictions are for I-81 widening project .

PRIMARY ROAD S

• *NEW* Route 42 (Little Calf Pasture Highway) – Shoulder closures near Route 1130 (East Village Lane) intersection for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
• *NEW* Route 250 (West Main Street, Waynesboro) – Eastbound and westbound overnight alternating lane closures between Route 1007 (Stoneridge Drive) and Hopeman Parkway for rock and soil testing, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. nights July 28 – August 3.
• *NEW* Route 254 (Parkersburg Turnpike) – Westbound right shoulder closures near Route 262 (Woodrow Wilson Parkway) interchange for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

SECONDARY ROADS

• *NEW* Route 602 (Summerdean Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 603 (Cales Spring Road) and Route 876 (Mish Barn Road) for overhead utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 22 – August 1.
• *NEW* Route 608 (Long Meadow Road) – Closed between Route 796 (Kiddsville Road) and Route 795 (Entry School Road) for cross pipe replacement at several locations, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Follow posted detour.
• *NEW* Route 610 (Howardsville Turnpike) – Flagger traffic control between Route 916 (View Drive) and Route 634 (China Clay Road) for overhead utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 22 – August 1.
• Route 624 (South Delphine Avenue, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between South Oak Lane and Chinquapin Drive for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor , through May 2025.
• Route 635 (Barterbrook Road) – Closed between I-81 frontage roads (FR-217 and FR-218) for bridge replacement as part of I-81 southbound auxiliary lane project. Follow posted detour. Expected completion summer 2025.
• *NEW* Route 664 (Reeds Gap Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 814 (Love Road) and Blue Ridge Parkway for overhead utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. July 22 – August 1.
• Route 664 (Mount Torrey Road) – Occasional flagger traffic control between Route 624 (Lyndhurst Road) and Route 610 (Howardsville Turnpike) for utility work, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through September 30.
• Route 664 (Lyndhurst Road, Waynesboro) – Shoulder closures between Miami Avenue and Purdue Street for work related to construction of Waynesboro Southern Corridor , through June 2025.
• Route 682 (McKinley Road) – Flagger traffic control between Route 252 (Middlebrook Road) and Route 679 (Campbells Hollow Road) for overhead utility work, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. through Thursday.
• Various roads – Mobile traffic control for mowing operations. Flagger traffic control for drainage work, tree removal, shoulder repairs, pavement patching and brush cutting, 7:30 to 3 p.m. on weekdays.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Cell phone-free school community talk, Interstate 81 detours: THE DIGEST