WILLIAMSBURG — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) held a public hearing Thursday evening to share its proposed plans for widening nine miles of Interstate 64 in James City County.
The public hearing at Stonehouse Elementary School was designed to give residents an opportunity to review the project exhibits on display, meet with VDOT representatives and provide input. Residents also had the opportunity to provide oral and written comments at the hearing.
There was no formal presentation, rather, residents were able to review visual presentations and ask questions of VDOT representatives in an open-house format.
“This is a really good turnout,” said Lindsay Denietolis, Senior Communications Specialist for VDOT. “I think it’s a project that is highly visible … and so they want to see what it actually encompasses.”
The portion of the project located in James City County, from mile marker 224.3 to mile marker 233.3, is Project Segment C. The segment will be the second of three widening projects planned to expand the I-64 corridor from four to six lanes to alleviate congestion and bridge the remaining “gap” of unwidened interstate between Hampton Roads and Richmond.
“We’re adding a lane. We’re widening towards the interior — towards the inside median —so there’s no right-of-way acquisition. And then we’re also adding a 10-foot paved shoulder lane, giving a little bit more room to help alleviate congestion,” explained Denietolis.
Plans for the segment include the addition of one travel lane on I-64 in each direction, from the New Kent-James City County line to approximately 1.2 miles west of exit 234 — Route 199/Lightfoot.
The estimated $231.8 million project will be put out for bid in the fall, with the expectation to award a contract in the spring, with a projected completion date of late 2027.
Additional improvements included in the segment are the widening and rehabilitation of the two bridges over Six Mount Zion Road and the paving of the Lightfoot Park & Ride lot in York County.
Residents may continue to provide comments on the project by submitting them by Sept. 3 to: Anthony Haverly, P.E., P.M.P., Virginia Department of Transportation, c/o I-64 Gap Widening Project, 2430 Pine Forest Drive, Colonial Heights, VA 23834 or via email to Anthony.Haverly@VDOT.Virginia.
For more information on the project, visit its VDOT project page.
