Interstate 581 Virginia

Interstate 581 Virginia
Roanoke, VA ↔ north of Roanoke, VA•6.64 miles

Overview

Interstate 581 is a spur leading south from I-81 to Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) and the independent city of Roanoke. The urban freeway is cosigned with U.S. 220 as part of its route between Martinsville and Covington. I-581 is also incorporated in the Future Interstate 73 corridor through Virginia. Exit numbers along Interstate 581 utilize cardinal direction based suffixes. Interchange numbers increase from north to south, contrary to standard Interstate numbering.

Mileage by State

Virginia6.64 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2025 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

Interstate 581 was part of the urban Interstate numerology submitted by the Virginia Department of Highways to the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on July 16, 1958 and formally approved on November 10, 1958. Traffic and Planning Division Maps produced in April 1958 identified the spur into Roanoke as Interstate Route U2, where U stood for urban. I-381 was Interstate Route U1.

Interstate 581 opened initially from I-81 south to Virginia Route 117 (Peters Creek Road) in November 1964, and south to U.S. 460/11 Alternate and Virginia Route 116 (Orange Avenue) by September 1965. Completion of the route southward to SR 24 (Elm Avenue) occurred by October 1967.1

Roanoke, VA - 1963
Interstate 581 under construction from I-81 southeast to U.S. 460 (Orange Avenue) – 1963 Virginia Official Highway Map.
Roanoke, VA - 1967
The southernmost section of I-581 under construction in 1967. Subsequent freeway segments built south were only designated as new alignments of U.S. 220.

The Valley View Interchange along I-581/U.S. 220 at Exit 3C was the second diverging diamond constructed in the state of Virginia. The DDI replaced a partial exit built in 1999. Benefiting holiday shoppers bound for adjacent Valley View Mall, the exchange opened to traffic following a ribbon cutting ceremony held on November 21, 2016.2 Design-build contracts for the $63.9 million project were awarded in March 2013. Work commenced in Summer 2014.3

Future Interstate 73 corridor signs for I-581/U.S. 220 were unveiled at a news conference held by the City of Roanoke on April 3, 2015. The announcement followed efforts from Senator Bill Stanley (R-Franklin County), who sponsored a bill that established the I-73 Federal Transportation Compact. The partnership coordinates funding, development and construction of the Interstate corridor between Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and the Carolinas. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) estimated at the time that it will cost $4 billion to complete the highway within the Commonwealth.4

North End Interstate 81 U.S. 220 ‐ north of Roanoke, VA

Interstate 581 U.S. 220 North at Interstate 81

I-581/US 220 north at I-81 - Roanoke, VA

I-581/U.S. 220 run along the west side of Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport (ROA) north to SR 117 (Peters Creek Road). 05/27/21

I-581/US 220 north at I-81 - Roanoke, VA I-581/US 220 north at I-81 - Roanoke, VA I-581/US 220 north at I-81 - Roanoke, VA I-581/US 220 north at I-81 - Roanoke, VA I-581/US 220 north at I-81 - 2004 I-581/US 220 north at I-81 - Roanoke, VA

Interstate 81 North at Interstate 581 U.S. 220

I-81 north at I-581/US 220 - Roanoke, VA

Costing $38 million, construction from Spring 2020 to Summer 2022 expands I-81 with auxiliary lanes in both directions between Exit 141 with SR 419 (Electric Road) and Exit 143 with I-581/U.S. 220 south. 05/26/21

I-81 north at I-581/US 220 - Roanoke, VA I-81 north at I-581/US 220 - 2013

Interstate 81 U.S. 220 South at Interstate 581

I-81/US 220 south at I-581 - Roanoke, VA

I-81/U.S. 220 straddle the east slope of Green Ridge southwest to Left Exit 143 for Interstate 581 south. 05/27/21

I-81/US 220 south at I-581 - Roanoke, VA I-81/US 220 south at I-581 - 2013 I-81/US 220 south at I-581 - Roanoke, VA I-81/US 220 south at I-581 - Roanoke, VA

South End U.S. 220 Virginia Route 24 ‐ Roanoke, VA

Interstate 581 U.S. 220 South at Virginia Route 24

I-581/US 220 south at SR 24 - Roanoke, VA

Advancing south from U.S. 11/221-SR 116 (Williamson Road), I-581/U.S. 220 elevate along a viaduct over the Norfolk Southern Roanoke Shops rail facility to Exit 6 for SR 24 (Elm Avenue). 08/06/13

I-581/US 220 south at SR 24 - Roanoke, VA I-581/US 220 south at SR 24 - Roanoke, VA I-581/US 220 south at SR 24 - Roanoke, VA

U.S. 220 North at Interstate 581 Virginia Route 24

US 220 north at Wonju St - Roanoke, VA

U.S. 220 angles northeast toward Downtown Roanoke, meeting Wonju Street 1.75 miles ahead of Interstate 581. 05/27/21

US 220 north at Wonju St - Roanoke, VA US 220 north at I-581/SR 24 - Roanoke, VA US 220 north at I-581/SR 24 - Roanoke, VA

References

  1. Roberson, M. (2014, December 6). I-581. Virginia Highways Page. Retrieved from http://www.vahighways.com/route-log/i581.htm
  2. Valley View Interchange project to finish in time for Black Friday. (2016, November 16). WDBJ.
  3. Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). Interstate 581 and Valley View Interchange Improvements. Retrieved November 28, 2016 from http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/salem/valley_view_interchange.asp
  4. Roanoke unveils new sign pushing future Interstate 73. (2015, April 4). WSLS TV-10. Retrieved from https://www.wsls.com/economy/2015/04/04/roanoke-unveils-new-sign-pushing-future-interstate-73/
Updated July 14, 2021