Public Meeting Scheduled for I-64 Gap Widening Project

News Summary

Contractors for VDOT will host a public meeting on the I-64 Gap Segment C Widening Project on May 6. The meeting will provide updates on construction status and future developments aimed at improving traffic flow between Richmond and Hampton Roads.

New Kent, Virginia – Contractors for the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a citizen information meeting on the I-64 Gap Segment C Widening Project on Tuesday, May 6, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This meeting will take place at Stonehouse Elementary School, located at 3651 Rochambeau Drive. The purpose of the meeting is to provide the public with updates regarding the current status and future developments of the widening project.

The I-64 Gap Widening Project aims to enhance connectivity between Richmond and Hampton Roads by addressing traffic congestion and safety concerns along a nine-mile stretch of the I-64 corridor. The project specifically targets the area from the New Kent/James City County line to roughly 1.15 miles west of the Route 199 Lightfoot exit (exit 234). Construction commenced in November and includes significant roadway widening and pavement rehabilitation efforts.

Participants in the meeting will have the opportunity to engage with VDOT representatives and members of the design-build team, which includes Allan Myers and Wagman Construction. The format will be open-house style, allowing for discussions on current project design and construction updates, projected traffic impacts, anticipated construction timelines, and findings from the project’s final noise analysis and noise barrier locations.

In addition to the roadway widening, the project will involve the repair and rehabilitation of two bridges on I-64 that cross over Six Mount Zion Road. Enhancements will also extend to the Lightfoot Park and Ride lot in York County, which will be entirely repaved as part of this initiative.

The I-64 Gap Widening Project features a planned addition of a 12-foot wide third lane along each direction of the highway, as well as 10-foot wide paved shoulders. Currently, this stretch of the corridor only accommodates two lanes in each direction, contributing to what has been termed “the gap” in the highway network. This specific section of the I-64 corridor has seen a significant rise in traffic congestion due to its narrower configuration.

Officials estimate that the cost of the Segment C widening project will reach approximately $231.8 million. Full funding for the project has been secured, and work on Segment C is expected to begin in the spring of 2024, with completion projected for late 2027. The overall objective is to widen about 29 miles of travel lanes across the three segments labeled A, B, and C, making each segment independent yet interlinked in purpose.

Enhancements made through this project are not only designed to alleviate congestion and improve safety during emergencies but are also anticipated to stimulate local economic growth and development. Widening the I-64 corridor aims to eliminate all two-lane sections between Richmond and Hampton Roads, significantly improving traffic flow and safety in the region.

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Additional Resources

• WYDaily: I-64 Widening Project Update Meeting
• Wikipedia: Interstate 64 (Virginia)
• Daily Press: VDOT Meets on I-64 Widening
• Google Search: I-64 widening project Virginia
• Pilot Online: Next Phase of I-64 Widening
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Virginia
• WAVY: Gov. Youngkin Breaks Ground on I-64 Widening
• Google News: I-64 widening project