Monday, November 13, marked the groundbreaking for the $756 million I-64 Gap Widening Project.
The project’s goal is to improve travel between Richmond to Hampton Roads. To do so, the plan is to expand each side of the highway from two lanes to three lanes from mile marker 204.9 in New Kent County to mile marker 233.3 in James City County. Also, 10-foot-wide paved shoulders will be added in each direction.
Adjoining parts of I-64 are already have six or more lane, and that’s why this area is referred to as “the gap,” notes VDOT.
There is a lot of braking in the gap and the notorious congestion is growing, “disrupting one of Virginia’s most important thoroughfares,” the department adds.
Ultimately, the widening project aims to increase capacity and mobility, alleviate congestion, improve safety, and enhance connectivity.
“The I-64 corridor serves as a key connector between Richmond, Henrico, Hanover, New Kent, Hampton Roads, and James City counties,” said Secretary of Transportation Shep Miller. “Connecting the Central Virginia and Hampton Roads regions is critical to growing Virginia’s economy, and safety is an important component as well. The I-64 Gap Project will improve traffic flow and operations, including strengthening our emergency evacuation routes and ensuring our communities have a lifeline to safety.”
The project will be completed in three segments. Work on Segment A, which runs from mile marker 204.9 (just west of the Bottoms Bridge exit) to mile marker 215.6 (just east of the New Kent Courthouse/Providence Forge exit) is slated to begin this month, according to VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich.
Shirley Contracting Company, LLC along with Dewberry Engineers, Inc. have been awarded the design-build contract for Segment A.
The entire project is currently estimated to be complete in summer 2027.
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