Editing Interstate 581

{{Short description|Highway in Virginia}}
{{Distinguish|Pennsylvania Route 581}}
{{see also|Interstate 73 in Virginia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{Use American English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox road
| state = VA
| type = I
| route = 581
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=270|type=line|from=Interstate 581.map}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-581 highlighted in red
| maint = [[Virginia Department of Transportation|VDOT]]
| length_mi = 6.64
| length_ref = <ref>{{cite web |date=December 31, 2021 |title=Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System Of Interstate and Defense Highways |url=https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |access-date=July 21, 2022| work=FHWA Route Log and Finder List |publisher=[[Federal Highway Administration]]}}</ref>
| established=1964<ref name="Roanoker Magazine">{{cite web |date=January 2, 2018|title=Streets of Roanoke: Interstate 581 |url= https://theroanoker.com/magazine/departments/streets-of-roanoke-interstate-581 |last=Harris |first=Nelson |access-date=November 15, 2023 |publisher=The Roanoker Magazine}}</ref>
| spur_type = I
| spur_of = 81
| direction_a = South
| terminus_a = {{Jct|state=VA|US|220|SR|24}} in [[Roanoke, VA|Roanoke]]
| direction_b = North
| terminus_b = {{Jct|state=VA|I|81|US|220}} near [[Hollins, Virginia|Hollins]]
| counties = [[Roanoke, Virginia|City of Roanoke]], [[Roanoke County, Virginia|Roanoke]]
| previous_type = I
| previous_route = 564
| next_type = SR
| next_route = 598
}}

'''Interstate&nbsp;581''' ('''I-581''') is a [[List of auxiliary Interstate Highways|spur]] of [[Interstate 81 in Virginia|I-81]] into [[Roanoke, Virginia]], completely [[Concurrency (road)|overlapping]] [[U.S. Route 220 in Virginia|US Route&nbsp;220]] (US&nbsp;220). It was planned to be connected to [[Interstate 73 in Virginia|I-73.]] '''Future I-73 Corridor''' signs have been marked on I-581 on the southbound side just after exit&nbsp;2.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Google Maps |url=https://www.google.com/maps/@37.3204704,-79.984725,3a,37.5y,178.67h,85.84t/data=!3m8!1e1!3m6!1sKkGnALt8h-nxgEo-tcgWPw!2e0!5s20241001T000000!6shttps://streetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com/v1/thumbnail?cb_client=maps_sv.tactile&w=900&h=600&pitch=4.162785995587782&panoid=KkGnALt8h-nxgEo-tcgWPw&yaw=178.6656614431778!7i16384!8i8192!5m1!1e1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDQyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw== |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Google Maps |language=en}}</ref>

==Route description==
[[File:Interstate 581 northern terminus.jpg|thumb|left|Northern terminus of I-581 at I-81 in Roanoke County]]
[[File:2017-06-13 14 11 03 View north along Interstate 581 and U.S. Route 220 just north of Exit 6 (Virginia State Route 24-Elm Avenue, Vinton) in Roanoke, Virginia.jpg|thumb|right|View north along I-581/US&nbsp;220 just north of SR&nbsp;24 in Roanoke]]
The I-581 designation ends at the Elm Avenue ([[Virginia State Route 24|State Route&nbsp;24]] (SR&nbsp;24)) interchange in downtown [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]], where US&nbsp;220 continues south as the Roy L. Webber Expressway.  I-581 was constructed as a six lane highway for its entire length and has not been widened in its history.

Many of I-581's exits are [[cloverleaf interchange]]s, which results in [[Grade separation#Weaving|weaving]]. The northern terminus has short merge areas with I-81, particularly the left-lane southbound merge.

[[Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport]], [[Valley View Mall (Roanoke, Virginia)|Valley View Mall]], and [[Berglund Center]] are all located adjacent to I-581. The Hershberger Road ([[State Route 101 (Virginia)|SR&nbsp;101]]) exit has become a focus of development. In addition to Valley View, two large hotels were constructed in the early 1980s with another group of hotels being constructed from the mid-1990s through the present. In 2002, local [[CBS]] affiliate [[WDBJ]] constructed its new facility, designed to broadcast in [[HDTV]], on Hershberger Road near I-581.

The southern end of I-581 offers views of the downtown Roanoke [[skyline]], most prominently the [[Hotel Roanoke]], the [[Wells Fargo]] Tower, the former [[Roanoke Shops]] of [[Norfolk Southern Railway]], the Norfolk Southern tower, and St. Andrews Catholic Church. The [[Roanoke Star]] is also clearly visible.

==History==
===Roy L. Webber Expressway===
In 1980, the highway was extended approximately {{convert|3.3|mi|km}} from the Elm Avenue interchange to [[Virginia State Route 419|SR&nbsp;419]] near [[Tanglewood Mall]] in Roanoke County. US&nbsp;220 continues as a four lane arterial road south of the SR&nbsp;419 interchange. Since the extension was not constructed to full [[Interstate Highway standards]],<ref name="Roanoker Magazine"/> it only carried the US&nbsp;220 designation and was named the Roy L. Webber Expressway after a [[Roy L. Webber|former mayor of Roanoke]]. The primary interchange along the expressway is at Wonju Street, which links Franklin Road ([[U.S. Route 220 Business (Roanoke, Virginia)|US&nbsp;220 Business]] [US&nbsp;220 Bus]) and Colonial Avenue and Brandon Avenue ([[U.S. Route 11 in Virginia|US&nbsp;11]]). This exit provides quick access to downtown Roanoke from residential areas in southwest Roanoke. Wonju Street is named after [[Wonju]], [[South Korea]], one of Roanoke's [[sister cities]]. The expressway was originally constructed with four lanes but was widened to six lanes in the mid-1990s.

===Planned I-73===
The road was planned to become part of an extension of [[Interstate 73 in Virginia|I-73 in Virginia]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About I-73|website=[[Virginia Department of Transportation]]|url= https://www.virginiadot.org/projects/I73/I73-about.asp|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20051005194428/http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/I73/I73-about.asp|url-status= dead|archive-date= October 5, 2005|access-date=November 15, 2023}}</ref> {{As of|2025}}, plans were shelved.

==Exit list==<!--mileposts are south to north, despite exit numbers being north to south-->
{{Jcttop|exit|length_ref=<ref name="traffic counts Roanoke">{{cite web|url=http://www.virginiadot.org/info/resources/Traffic_2012/AADT_080_Roanoke_2012.pdf|title=Jurisdiction Report - Roanoke County|year=2012|publisher=[[Virginia Department of Transportation]]|access-date=September 9, 2013}}</ref>}}
{{VAint|exit
|indep_city=Roanoke
|lspan=7|type=concur
|mile=0.00
|mspan=2
|road={{jct|state=VA|US|220|dir1=south|city1=Martinsville<!--is this signed anywhere on I-581? it's the control city at SR 419-->}}
|notes=Continuation south; southern end of US 220 concurrency
}}
{{VAint|exit
|mile=none
|exit=6
|road={{jct|state=VA|SR|24|name1=Elm Avenue|city1=Vinton}}
|notes=
}}
{{VAint|exit
|mile=0.66
|exit=5
|type=incomplete
|road={{jct|state=VA|US|11|US|221|US-Bus|220|dab3=Roanoke|dir2=south|location1=[[Downtown Roanoke, Virginia|Downtown]]}}
|notes=Southbound exit and northbound entrance; US 221 not signed
}}
{{VAint|exit
|mile=0.97
|exit=4
|road={{jct|state=VA|US|460|name1=Orange Avenue|location1=[[Berglund Center]]}}
|notes=Signed as exits 4E (east) and 4W (west)
}}
{{VAint|exit
|mile=2.65
|exit=3C
|road=Valley View Boulevard&nbsp;&ndash; [[Roanoke Regional Airport|Airport]]
|notes=[[Diverging diamond interchange]] completed in November 2016 with new south bound exit and northbound entrance ramps, now providing complete access
}}
{{VAint|exit
|mile=3.76
|exit=3
|road={{Jct|state=VA|SR|101|name1=Hershberger Road|location1=[[Roanoke Regional Airport|Airport]]}}
|notes=Signed as exits 3E (east) and 3W (west)
}}
{{VAint|exit
|mile=5.51
|exit=2
|road={{jct|state=VA|SR|117|name1=Peters Creek Road}}
|notes=Signed as exits 2N (north) and 2S (south)
}}
{{VAint|exit
|county=Roanoke
|location=none
|exit=1
|mile=6.35
|type=concur
|road={{jct|state=VA|I|81|city1=Salem|city2=Bristol|US|220|dir2=north|city3=Lexington}}
|notes=Northern terminus; northern end of US 220 concurrency; signed as exits 1N (north) and 1S (south); exit 143 on I-81
}}
{{Jctbtm|exit|keys=incomplete,concur}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Interstate 581}}
{{AttachedKML|display=title,inline}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070315152057/http://www.vahighways.com/route-log/i81.htm#i581 Virginia Highways Project: I-581]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060219180601/http://www.aaroadtrips.com/i-581_va.html Virginia @ AARoads.com - Interstate 581]
*[http://www.roadstothefuture.com/I581_VA_Desc.html Roads to the Future: Interstate 581 in Virginia]

{{3di|81}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Interstate Highways in Virginia|81-5]]
[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|81-5 Virginia]]
[[Category:Transportation in Roanoke, Virginia|Interstate 581]]
[[Category:Transportation in Roanoke County, Virginia|Interstate 581]]
[[Category:Interstate 81|5]]
[[Category:Interstate 73|81-5]]
[[Category:U.S. Route 220]]