About 70 people went before the Commonwealth's Interstate-81 project advisory panel Thursday night to discuss plans to widen the four-lane highway.
The panel used teleconferencing equipment to create a statewide public hearing that included participants from Richmond, Bristol, Salem and Harrisonburg.
Most speakers opposed both of the two available multibillion-dollar proposals and instead suggested rail service expansion or increased police patrols on I-81, which spans a total of 325 miles in the western part of the Commonwealth.
Those who are in favor of widening the highway oppose the installment of tollbooths to fund the project, arguing that truckers and other travelers would congest area country roads in order to bypass a toll.
Once the panel decides whether or not to approve one, both or neither of the proposals, it will forward its decision to hearings conducted by the state transportation commissioner.
--compiled by Natasha Altamirano
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