Millwood Avenue has lane closures for the I-81 bridge rebuild, and Route 7 narrows overnight at I-81 through Nov. 20. Pall Mall Street reopens Nov. 18.

Last checked Saturday, Nov. 14, 2026. This page is refreshed weekly. Closures come from the City of Winchester’s Road Closures page and VDOT’s Staunton District traffic alert for Nov. 16-20; state projects from VDOT.

The closures most drivers will notice next week are VDOT’s lane and shoulder closures on Millwood Avenue and Millwood Pike for the Interstate 81 bridge rebuild at Exit 313, and overnight single-lane closures on Route 7 at its bridge over I-81, which VDOT has extended through Friday, Nov. 20. Pall Mall Street is due to reopen after Wednesday, Nov. 18. The Cork Street, Shirley Street and Academy Lane utility closures still run to Nov. 30.

Most road work inside Winchester is the city’s own: water, sewer and street projects run by the Public Services Department. I-81 and the state highways around the city belong to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), whose Staunton District covers the Winchester area.

Who to call

City street closures this week

From the city’s Road Closures page, as of Saturday, Nov. 14:

Street Between Dates and hours Access
Pall Mall Street City Yards entrance and Kent Street Oct. 13 to Wednesday, Nov. 18, around the clock (utility work, revised) Local traffic
Linden Drive and Caroline Street Caroline Street to 352 Linden Drive; Linden Drive to Whitacre Street Sept. 21 to Saturday, Nov. 21 (traffic circle installation) Detour: left on Fox Drive to Linden Drive; residents can reach homes on parts of Caroline Street
Cork Street Lee Street and Academy Lane Through Monday, Nov. 30, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (utility work, extended Oct. 29) Local residents and emergency traffic only
Shirley Street Joist Hite Place and Cork Street Sept. 23 to Monday, Nov. 30, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (utility work, extended Oct. 29) Local traffic
Academy Lane Joist Hite Place and Cork Street Sept. 23 to Monday, Nov. 30, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (utility work, extended Oct. 29) Local traffic
Boscawen Street Indian Alley to just before Cameron Street Since Oct. 19, 2025; no end date listed Closed

The city’s page still lists three closures whose dates have passed, so they are not in the table: the overnight Millwood Avenue closure for power company work on Nov. 6, Monmouth Street utility work on Nov. 9-11 and Joist Hite Place utility work to Oct. 30. Check the city’s page before you drive. The Boscawen Street block is part of the city’s Boscawen Street Pedestrian Mall Improvements review, in which staff are studying short- and long-term safety measures for people on foot downtown.

State roads next week

From VDOT’s Staunton District traffic alert for Nov. 16-20, the work in and next to the city:

  • Millwood Pike and Millwood Avenue (U.S. 50/17/522): lane and shoulder closures as needed both ways between U.S. 522 (Front Royal Pike) and Apple Blossom Drive for the I-81 bridge replacement and road improvements. Estimated completion December 2029. VDOT has not published day-by-day closure times for this work. Our story on what the project changes.
  • Route 7 (Berryville Avenue/Pike) at I-81: overnight single-lane closures both ways between Ross Street in Winchester and Route 716 (Martin Drive), 7 p.m. to 4 a.m., through Friday, Nov. 20, for maintenance on the bridge over I-81.
  • I-81, mile markers 315 to 316 (new): overnight single-lane closures both ways, 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. Thursday night, Nov. 19, for an overpass bridge inspection.
  • I-81 northbound, mile markers 309 to 314: right shoulder closures for sign work, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Monday, Nov. 30. Right shoulder closures on the Exit 310 northbound off-ramp, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • I-81 southbound, mile markers 325 to 324: right shoulder closures for sign work, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
  • I-81, mile markers 300 to 302: overnight single-lane closures southbound, 8 p.m. to 7 a.m., and shoulder closures around the clock, through January 2028, for the southbound widening project. The work zone speed limit is 60 mph.
  • Senseny Road (Route 657, new) between Milam Drive (Route 1225) and Greenwood Road (Route 656): flaggers, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, for utility work.
  • Papermill Road (Route 644) between Harrison Lane (Route 855) and Pasture Lane (Route 717): flaggers, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Friday, Dec. 4, for turn lane construction.
  • U.S. 50 (Northwestern Turnpike) between Route 688 (Stony Hill Road) and Brookannleigh Drive: mobile lane closures both ways, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., through Friday, Nov. 20, for pavement marking.
  • U.S. 522 (Front Royal Pike) between the Warren County line and Route 644 (Papermill Road): overnight mobile lane closures, 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., through the night of Thursday, Nov. 19, for pavement marking.
  • Redbud Road (Route 661) and Milburn Road (Route 662): flaggers as needed for the Redbud Road relocation, expected to finish in October 2027.
  • Line painting: mobile lane closures, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., through Saturday, Nov. 21, on parts of Route 127 (Bloomery Pike), Route 259 (Carpers Pike) and Route 277 (Fairfax Street/Fairfax Pike) in Frederick County, and on U.S. 50/17 (John Mosby Highway) in Clarke County.
  • Route 7 in Clarke County: single-lane closures both ways at the bridge over U.S. 340 near Berryville, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., through Wednesday, Nov. 25, for bridge maintenance.

City projects to know about

The city lists its larger jobs on the City Projects map. The ones that touch traffic:

  • Millwood Avenue: the city is replacing a box culvert under Millwood Avenue at Abrams Creek and moving utilities, and expects to finish in early 2027, VDOT said. VDOT’s own Millwood Avenue and Millwood Pike work starts in November and runs to late 2029. City project page.
  • Pleasant Valley Road and Cork Street: a new right-turn lane, listed on the projects map.
  • Jefferson Street water main replacement: project page.
  • North Cameron drainage: four stormwater retention ponds along Cameron and Kent streets and new pipes. Project page.
  • South End Fire Station: a new station on the current site at 17 W. Monmouth St., built in phases while the old station stays open. Project page.

State projects: I-81 at Exit 317

VDOT’s biggest project near the city is the I-81 widening and Exit 317 improvements in Frederick County, just north of Winchester:

  • A third lane each way on I-81 from about mile marker 316.9 to 319, with new bridges over the railroads and over U.S. 11 (Martinsburg Pike).
  • A diverging diamond interchange at Exit 317, a realigned northbound off-ramp at Route 661 (Redbud Road), a shared-use path on U.S. 11, a one-way pair on Welltown Road and Crown Lane, and a new park-and-ride lot.
  • Status: in design. VDOT estimates construction starts in late 2027, with the design-build contract awarded in summer 2027. Estimated cost: $254 million.
  • VDOT says I-81 lane closures will be limited to nights and overnight, keeping two lanes open each way at peak times.
  • A separate widening from about mile marker 312.2 to 317 is in early design.

VDOT counted an average of 66,200 vehicles a day on that stretch of I-81 in 2024 and expects 97,800 by 2050. The work is part of the state’s I-81 Corridor Improvement Program.

Before you drive

  • Check 511 Virginia for crashes, lane closures and cameras on I-81, Route 7, Route 37, U.S. 11, U.S. 17, U.S. 50 and U.S. 522.
  • The city’s closures page changes often; the city asks drivers to check back.
  • Detour signs are posted for closures that need them.

What this means for you

  • Expect lane and shoulder closures as needed on Millwood Avenue and Millwood Pike between Front Royal Pike and Apple Blossom Drive while the three-year bridge project runs.
  • Expect one lane each way on Route 7 over I-81 from 7 p.m. to 4 a.m. nightly through Friday, Nov. 20, and one lane each way on I-81 between mile markers 315 and 316 on Thursday night, Nov. 19.
  • Pall Mall Street between the City Yards entrance and Kent Street stays closed to through traffic until Wednesday, Nov. 18.
  • The Linden Drive and Caroline Street closure for the traffic circle runs to Saturday, Nov. 21; use Fox Drive.
  • The Cork Street, Shirley Street and Academy Lane utility closures run to Monday, Nov. 30, on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • I-81 construction at Exit 317 is not expected before late 2027.

Related guides: getting around Winchester and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find road closures in Winchester, Virginia?

The city posts every street and lane closure for work or events on its Road Closures page and sends them by email to subscribers. For interstates and state routes, use VDOT’s 511 Virginia site or dial 511.

When will I-81 be widened near Winchester?

VDOT plans a third lane in each direction on I-81 from about mile marker 316.9 to 319 and a diverging diamond interchange at Exit 317, with construction estimated to start in late 2027. The project is estimated at $254 million.

Is Route 7 closed at I-81 in Winchester?

VDOT has overnight single-lane closures on Route 7 (Berryville Avenue) both ways between Ross Street and Route 716 (Martin Drive), 7 p.m. to 4 a.m., through Friday, Nov. 20, for maintenance on the bridge over I-81. One lane stays open.

Is Cork Street closed in Winchester?

Cork Street between Lee Street and Academy Lane is closed for city utility work from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Monday, Nov. 30, after the city extended it on Oct. 29. It is open to local residents and emergency traffic.

Is there construction on Millwood Avenue?

Yes. VDOT started its Route 50/17/522 project the week of Nov. 2 and lists lane and shoulder closures as needed both ways between Front Royal Pike and Apple Blossom Drive for the week of Nov. 16. It includes a new bridge over I-81 at Exit 313 and is scheduled to finish in December 2029.

Who do I call about a Winchester road closure?

Call the city’s Public Services Department at 540-773-1340 about city streets. VDOT handles the interstate and state routes.