-- STOPPING BY THE VDOT DISTRICT HEADQUARTERS IN SALEM ON TUESDAY -- TO GET AN UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO IMPROVE I-81. THE NEARLY $4-BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT INCLUDES EXPANDED LANES.. MORE TRAFFIC CAMERAS.. AND OTHER SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS. MORE THAN 11 MILLION FREIGHT TRUCKS USE THE INTERSTATE EACH YEAR.. THE HIGHEST STATE. GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN SAYS THIS IS A BIG BOOST TO THE STATE'S ECONOMY.. AND ASKS DRIVERS TO BE PATIENT -- AMID ONGOING BIGGEST CORRIDOR DOWN THE EAST COAST, AND I'M JUST ALWAYS EXCITED WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT THE LOGISTICS IN VIRGINIA."FINALLY I KNOW THAT ONCE ORANGE CONES ARE LINNIG ALL THE WAY UP AND DOWN I-81, PEOPLE WILL BE COMPLAINING ABOUT TOO MANY ORANGE CONES, BUT THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT STAGE FOR I-81 RIGHT NOW 6 OF THE 14 PROJECTS IN THE SALEM DISTRICT ARE COMPLETE. SOME SMALLER SAFETY IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS ARE ALSO FINISHED.. CREWS ARE NOW WIDENING THE INTERSTATE IN CERTAIN AREAS --