Interstate 73 in Virginia

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Interstate 73 in Virginia was a planned highway that would have run from the North Carolina line near Price, north through central Virginia toward Roanoke, and then toward West Virginia along a Corridor Q/US 460 route. The idea was to upgrade or replace parts of the existing US 220 corridor and connect with I-581 and I-81.

What the plan looked like in Virginia
- Start: I-73 would diverge from US 220 at the North Carolina border, bypass Martinsville to the east, with US 220 routed on the west side around Martinsville.
- Route to Roanoke: I-73 would run north of US 220 toward Roanoke, connect briefly with I-581, and then follow I-81 north toward Christiansburg.
- Beyond Roanoke: If extended farther north, the plan would use I-81 and possibly a link toward Blacksburg, then follow the US 460 corridor into West Virginia (Corridor Q).
- Overall idea: The Virginia segment would largely be built by upgrading or aligning with existing highways and proposed freeway improvements, with an aim to connect southern Virginia to the Roanoke region and beyond.

History and status
- The project originated in the 1991 ISTEA act as part of a longer I-73 corridor spanning multiple states. Over the years, Virginia studied routes and completed environmental work, but funding repeatedly stalled progress.
- In Virginia, a 2005 environmental impact statement was completed and FHWA approved in 2007, but no construction proceeded due to funding gaps and shifting priorities.
- In 2024, Virginia officials moved to rescind the original routing approval, noting that earmarked federal funds had been repurposed and new funding was unlikely. The project was suspended in September 2024.
- Across other states along the proposed I-73/74 corridor, many portions have not been built as Interstate highways, and Virginia’s portion remains the only state-focused route that was actively studied but not advanced.

Current takeaway
- There is no active construction of I-73 in Virginia.
- The plan has been effectively halted or suspended due to funding and shifting priorities, with the state focusing on other transportation needs.
- The corridor remains a historical concept, not an underway project in Virginia.