A project to widen at least part of Interstate 64 from Jefferson Avenue (exit 255) to Humelsine Parkway (exit 242) from two lanes on each side to three could go out for solicitation to contractors by mid-2014.
On Thursday, officials with the Virginia Department of Transportation briefed a group of politicians and members of the media about the project, which has picked up momentum since a transportation bill was signed into law by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R) in May. Because of that bill, $100 million has been allocated for the project with more money potentially on the way from the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization.
It is unclear how much of that stretch of road will be widened. Crews are busy pre-scoping the stretch of road, looking for potential risks as well as methods to mitigate those risks. Bruce Duvall, the VDOT project manager who is handling this project, said those risks include stormwater management and right-of-way issues. The hope is to widen the entire stretch of road, but funding limitations might not enable that to happen. A timetable for construction will be set once the exact stretch of road to be widened has been determined, which should happen by early 2014. Construction could begin in 2017 or earlier.
VDOT officials have split the stretch of road into two segments: one runs from exit 255 to the Fort Eustis Boulevard interchange (exit 250), while the other runs from there to exit 242. The 5-mile stretch from exit 255 to exit 250 is currently experiencing the worst congestion, with 96,000 vehicles per day driving there. VDOT’s goal is to maximize the distance of lane miles built with the current budget. Duvall said VDOT officials hope to at least widen the road from exit 255 to exit 250.
The extra lanes and new shoulders would be built in the median. The new lane and the new shoulder would each be 12-feet wide. The 15 bridges on the road between Newport News and Williamsburg would be widened to provide the additional lanes and shoulders, with the existing bridge structures remaining in place.
During the briefing, Williamsburg City Manager Jack Tuttle asked about median treatment. Duvall said part of the road would receive a double-faced guardrail, while a 5-mile stretch from Lee Hall (exit 247) to a part of the road that approaches the Route 143 exit (243) would have a concrete barrier. He went onto say VDOT is that the localities want a design that does not hurt the area’s appearance, mentioning landscaping as a possible way to alleviate that concern.
Charlie Kilpatrick, chief deputy commissioner for VDOT, said the construction could take two years, possibly stretching into a third.
“We’ve scoped more than we believe we have the money to do,” he said. “It’s important to build it in bits and pieces so you don’t have a 12-mile work zone.”
Nighttime lane closures are likely to occur with the project, though Kilpatrick said to close lanes during the day would be “intolerable.”
“Will the public have the benefit of four lanes out there during normal travel times? Absolutely,” he said.
Getting permission to undertake large highway projects is a lengthy affair, with approval needed from the federal government. Part of that approval comes for what’s known as an environmental impact statement, which is a document that examines the positive and negative effects of a project of this magnitude. Final approval on the EIS for this project should come by December, Duvall said. Following that, the Federal Highway Administration should issue a final decision about the project in early 2014.
A few members of the statehouse spoke, including Sen. Tommy Norment (R-3rd District) who praised the chairman of the James City County Board of Supervisors, John McGlennon, as well as Williamsburg Mayor Clyde Haulman and Del. Mike Watson (R-93rd District) for their efforts in the push to get the widening started.
“It will go a long way toward improving the quality of life,” McGlennon said of the project.
Watson feels the same way.
“This is one thing that improves everything in Hampton Roads, whether it’s commerce, Department of Defense, tourism or quality of life,” Watson said.
Related Coverage:
- VDOT Crews Surveying on I-64 to Prepare for Widening Project
- Public-Private Partnership Could Speed Up I-64 Improvements
- I-64 Widening from Williamsburg to Newport News Gains Momentum
- Transportation Bill Signing Likely Clears Way for I-64 Widening
- I-64 Widening Potentially on the Horizon
- Local Officials Push I-64 Widening in Transportation Bill Discussions
- New Lanes on I64? Maybe, as VDOT Hosts First Meeting on Options
