JAMES CITY COUNTY — Starting as early as Monday, contractor crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are scheduled to begin construction on a roadway improvements project on Croaker Road in James City County.
The Croaker Road Widening Project, designed to increase vehicle capacity and accommodate anticipated future growth along Croaker Road (Route 607), will encompass widening the existing two-lane roadway to four lanes between Richmond Road (Route 60) and Point O Woods Road (Route 1647)/Maxton Lane (Route 758), according to VDOT.
Additionally, the project will provide wider outside lanes to accommodate bicycles, as well as the construction of an additional bridge over the CSX railroad tracks. The project will also include the addition of a shared-use path and crosswalks, to facilitate pedestrian, bikeway and metropolitan connectivity in a growing area with new residential housing, a public library, public schools and commercial areas.
According to VDOT, project improvements include the following:
- Widening of Croaker Road from two lanes to four lanes by adding two additional lanes on the west side of Croaker Road between Richmond Road and Point O Woods Road/Maxton Lane with a raised median.
- Improvement of the turn lanes and a new pedestrian crosswalk at the intersection of Croaker Road and The Station at Norge Apartments.
- A separate left turn lane for southbound traffic to the soon-to-be constructed Norge Center.
- A dedicated thru-lane for southbound traffic at the intersection of Croaker Road & Richmond Road.
- An exclusive right-turn lane for southbound traffic at the intersection of Croaker Road and Rose Lane (Route 760).
- New shared-use path on the west side of Croaker Road, from Richmond Road to just south of Rose Lane. Pedestrian and bike traffic on the path will be able to continue across Croaker Road with a High-Intensity Activated Crosswalk (also known as a HAWK) signal to access the James City County Library on the east side of the roadway.
- New southbound bridge crossing over the CSX rail tracks. The bridge will be built to accommodate additional two lanes of travel and a shared use path, which will be separated from traffic lanes by a concrete parapet and steel railing.
During construction, motorists may encounter alternating single-lane closures on Croaker Road, VDOT said, but access to all businesses and residential properties will be maintained at all times.
The $19.2 million construction contract was awarded to E.J. Wade Construction, LLC. in January. Construction is estimated to be complete as early as fall 2027. All work is weather- and schedule-dependent; therefore, this schedule is subject to change, VDOT cautioned.
VDOT said the project continues its corridor improvements in the Norge area, including the sidewalk and bikeway improvements project on Richmond Road, currently under construction and estimated to be complete in summer 2024.
For more information on the project, visit the VDOT website.
