Governor Terry McAuliffe announced today construction has started on the first of three segments to widen Interstate 64. The first segment is a $122 million project that will add a lane and shoulder in each direction for 5.6 miles between Jefferson Avenue and Yorktown Road. About 100,000 vehicles travel this section every day.
“As we break ground on the first segment of an expanded I-64, we are on our way to reducing congestion and delays, improving traffic safety, and providing better access for emergency evacuation on I-64 in the Hampton Roads region,” said Governor McAuliffe. “This important project is also a critical step forward in our efforts to build the transportation system businesses and families need to thrive in a new Virginia economy. This project is a perfect example of making decisions at the local and regional level so that transportation funds get spent in a way that truly makes peoples’ lives better.”
Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne added, “For years, the public has been asking for improvements to this corridor. And now, we can begin the work to deliver this long sought-after project. This would not be possible without the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO), who identified it as one of the region’s top transportation projects, and the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC), whose support of the first two segments of the project provide approximately 250 million dollars from the Hampton Roads Transportation Fund revenues.
“These revenues supporting sound, responsible transportation initiatives will help build reliable transportation projects for our citizens,” said HRTAC Chairman Will Sessoms. “Segment I is HRTAC’s first investment. It is also an insurance policy for long-awaited congestion relief and emergency evacuation improvements.”
The Virginia Department of Transportation will deliver the first segment as a design-build project by Shirley Contracting Company, LLC. This is a more streamlined process that helps to expedite construction. The design-build team constructs the project while design is still underway, which greatly reduces the overall time necessary to complete the project. The project is estimated to be completed by winter 2017.
Work will occur in the median of the existing interstate. This limits the amount of right of way required to construct the project and avoids impacts to existing interchanges. In addition to roadway improvements, existing bridges will be widened to the inside.
The second section of I-64 improvements stretches to Route 199 in Williamsburg. That contract is scheduled to be awarded this December.
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Chris Graham
