On Monday, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and transportation officials broke ground on the long awaited I-64 Gap Widening Project in New Kent County.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is looking to add a 12-foot third lane and a 10-foot-wide paved shoulder to both directions of I-64 from Bottoms Bridge in New Kent County to the Lightfoot exit in York County.
According to Gov. Youngkin, the widening project will alleviate congestion, improve safety, and help strengthen Richmond’s connection to the Tidewater region.
“It provides such an opportunity for economic development up and down the corridor and finally connectivity,” said Youngkin. “We’re connecting Hampton Roads to Central Virginia so much better from a tourism standpoint, from an economic standpoint, and from an evacuation standpoint.”
Construction is expected to begin mid-November on the $756 million project.
VDOT Project Manager Dale Totten says they hope to keep both current lanes open while construction is taking place, so the flow of traffic is not interrupted.
The project will have three phases. Segment A construction will begin in mid-November and is estimated to be completed by Summer 2027. Section B construction will begin in December 2024 and is estimated to be completed by Spring 2028. Segment C construction will begin in May 2024 and is estimated to be completed in Fall 2027.
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Source: WTVR.com
