Editing Interstate 73 (section)

===Virginia===
{{Main|Interstate 73 in Virginia}}
I-73 was planned to connect [[Martinsville, Virginia|Martinsville]] and [[Roanoke, Virginia|Roanoke]], then head west to [[Blacksburg, Virginia|Blacksburg]] before entering [[West Virginia]].

Except for a divergence around the east side of Martinsville, the planned routing was to parallel US&nbsp;220 to [[Interstate 581|I-581]] in Roanoke, which I-73 was then to follow to I-81. Signs that say "Future I-73 Corridor" can be found along I-581.<ref>{{cite web |author = Virginia Department of Transportation |author-link = Virginia Department of Transportation |date = March 19, 2010 |url = http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/I73/I73-locationstudy.asp |title = I-73 Location Study |publisher = Virginia Department of Transportation |access-date = June 29, 2012 |archive-date = June 14, 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120614064707/http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/I73/I73-locationstudy.asp |url-status = live }}</ref> From Roanoke, I-73 was to run concurrently with I-81 to near [[Christiansburg, Virginia|Christiansburg]] and then use a completed [[Virginia Smart Road]] to Blacksburg. The rest of the way to West Virginia was to be an upgrade of [[U.S. Route 460|US&nbsp;460]], [[Corridor Q]] of the [[Appalachian Development Highway System]].

The [[Virginia Department of Transportation]] (VDOT) ran studies on this corridor, but its construction had very low priority compared to other projects in the state. Additionally, funding for the route was used for other more urgent projects.<ref name=I-73dead>{{cite news |last = Pickeral |first = Amie |date = May 24, 2016 |title = County Supervisors Told I-73 Project Appears to Be Over |url = http://www.martinsvillebulletin.com/news/county-supervisors-told-i--project-appears-to-be-over/article_1a5d2a02-2225-11e6-a372-9b23997f96d8.html |newspaper = [[Martinsville Bulletin]] |access-date = May 26, 2016 }}</ref>

In a July 2024 presentation to the [[Commonwealth Transportation Board]], which has ultimate authority over all transportation projects in the state, VDOT recommended the board rescind its original 2001 approval of I-73's routing. VDOT stated that the project's earmarked federal funding has been repurposed, and additional funding had not materialized and was unlikely to be found; in addition, the board itself had since adopted a policy requiring review of all location decisions after three years.<ref>{{cite web |title = Interstate 73 Corridor and Henry County Alternative Location Decisions Review |url = https://ctb.virginia.gov/media/ctb/agendas-and-meeting-minutes/2024/july/pres/CTB_July_Location_Decision_73_HCA_Final.pdf |publisher = Virginia Department of Transportation |date = July 16, 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1 = Dashiell |first1 = Joe |title = Commonwealth Transportation Board revisits routing decision for Interstate 73 |url = https://www.wdbj7.com/2024/07/16/commonwealth-transportation-board-revisits-routing-decision-interstate-73/ |work = [[WDBJ]] |date = July 16, 2024 |language = en |access-date = August 30, 2024 |archive-date = August 13, 2024 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20240813220036/https://www.wdbj7.com/2024/07/16/commonwealth-transportation-board-revisits-routing-decision-interstate-73/ |url-status = live }}</ref> At its September 2024 meeting, the board voted to rescind its approval. Any construction of I-73 would be required to start the entire location-study, environmental impact and public-comment process again.<ref>{{cite news |last1 = Dashiell |first1 = Joe |title = Commonwealth Transportation Board rescinds I-73 routing decision |url = https://www.wdbj7.com/2024/09/17/commonwealth-transportation-board-rescinds-i-73-routing-decision/ |work = WDBJ7 |date = September 17, 2024 |language = en }}</ref>