VDOT News - Hampton Roads

YORK COUNTY— The Virginia Department of Transportation today marked the completion of 8 miles of interstate widening and improvements on I-64 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. I-64 is a vital corridor for both the Hampton Roads and Richmond regions, connecting two major population centers with commerce, industry, and tourism while also supporting significant freight traffic from the Port of Virginia.

“Today marks the completion of the third segment of the I-64 Widening Project, expanding capacity and unlocking congestion on a vital economic corridor,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine. “This work represents an investment in the economic competitiveness of the Hampton Roads and Richmond regions – and our Commonwealth.”

The event was held at one of the project’s widened and rehabilitated bridges over the historic Colonial Parkway, consisting of approximately 60,000 custom-made bricks and intricate masonry work to match and maintain the distinct, historic aesthetics of the overall Colonial Parkway corridor.

Awarded the $178.3 million design-build contract in December 2017, Shirley Contracting and Dewberry design-build team completed the I-64 Widening Segment III Project in its entirety within budget and on schedule, meeting the Dec. 17, 2021, contract completion date. In addition to the craftsmanship at the Colonial Parkway bridges, the project’s improvements included the widening of approximately 8 miles of I-64, from two travel lanes to three in each direction, between Route 199/Newman Road in Lightfoot (exit 234) and Route 199/Humelsine Parkway (exit 242), as well as a full replacement of two bridges over Queens Creek. The project also included the widening and rehabilitation of four overpass bridges, over Lakeshead Drive and the aforementioned set over Colonial Parkway.

“While the successful completion and opening of 8 miles of new travel lanes is a significant accomplishment in York County, this development is part of a larger, improved travel experience for motorists across the Peninsula and beyond Hampton Roads,” said VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich. “Connecting with the previously completed I-64 widening projects enhances connectivity throughout the region for commerce, tourism and local commuters.”

Similar to the previous first and second segments of the I-64 widening projects completed in 2017 and 2019 respectively, the teamwork between the state, regional and local governments, regulating organizations, contractors and the community were critical in the successful planning, funding and delivery of this project. As the primary funding partner of nearly 200 lane miles of the I-64 improvements for congestion relief in Hampton Roads, the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC) represents one of these long-standing partnerships, responsible for funding and contracting with VDOT to construct this large-scale project.

“We celebrate the completion and operation of the I-64 Peninsula Segment III Project, which marks the third project of a series of I-64 widening and improvement projects on the Peninsula that VDOT and HRTAC have partnered on,” said HRTAC Chair and Mayor of Hampton Donnie Tuck. “Together, we’ve completed a total of 21 directional miles—or 126 lane miles—of new construction or reconstruction of the interstate, now open to motorists and contributing to congestion relief across the Virginia Peninsula.”

Along with the new lanes provided on the interstate and overpass bridges, the project also provided an improved driving surface due to the full reconstruction of the previous travel lanes, a new signalized intersection at the I-64 east off-ramp to Route 143, stormwater management facilities and drainage improvements, more than 2 miles of noise walls and corridor-wide landscaping.

View a replay of the ceremony here: https://youtu.be/Ht6lWMppV-U

To learn more about the I-64 Widening Segment III Project, please visit: http://i64widening.org/learn_more/segment_3.asp.

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