President Trump has signed the Fiscal Year 2026 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill into law. The legislation includes $17 million for widening projects and safety improvements along Interstate 81, a major route in Virginia’s Sixth District. Representative Ben Cline (VA-06), who advocated for this funding as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, emphasized its importance for the region.
“Interstate 81 is a critical component of the Shenandoah Valley and plays an outsized role in the region’s economy and daily life,” said Rep. Cline. “From local commuters and families to farmers, manufacturers, and truck drivers, countless Virginians rely on this corridor every day. This funding allows us to begin tackling persistent safety and congestion challenges while laying the groundwork for future capacity improvements. Adding a third lane to I-81 will improve reliability, support economic growth, and deliver lasting benefits for communities throughout the entire Sixth District and beyond.”
Interstate 81 supports significant freight movement, with over 12 million commercial trucks transporting more than $300 billion in goods annually along the corridor. As traffic has increased over time, so have delays that affect both businesses and travelers. A state report from 2018 identified pressing needs on I-81; while some measures have been taken at the state level, federal investment was deemed necessary.
Virginia’s Interstate 81 Corridor Improvement Program aims to expand sections of the highway from two lanes to three lanes where needed most. These changes are expected to reduce congestion, improve emergency response access, and lower crash risks by providing more space for vehicles.
Ben Cline has represented Virginia’s Sixth Congressional District since 2019 after replacing Bob Goodlatte in Congress (https://cline.house.gov/about). He previously served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2002 until his election to Congress (https://ballotpedia.org/Ben_Cline). Born in Stillwater, Oklahoma in 1972, Cline now lives in Fincastle with his wife Elizabeth and their two children. He graduated from Bates College with a bachelor’s degree in 1994 before earning his law degree from the University of Richmond in 2007.
