The portion of southbound Interstate 81 in Botetourt County that was closed earlier Monday following a tractor-trailer wreck has reopened, but the area remains congested.

According to the Virginia Department of Transportation, traffic in the area was backed up for about nine miles about 7:30 p.m. Monday.

The road closures were related to a tractor-trailer that crashed at mile marker 169.1 early Monday. 

Spokeswoman Heidi Coy said VDOT shut down the right lane near mile marker 169.1 twice Monday -- once in the morning to let crews offload the tractor-trailer's cargo of frozen food, and again during the afternoon to allow for the removal of the truck itself.

VDOT said the lane closure had backed up traffic for nearly five miles. They reopened the lane about 6 p.m. but the backups have remained and nearly doubled.
 
Drivers are advised to use caution and expect delays.