Construction to widen Interstate 64 began last night, as the Virginia Department of Transportation closed one lane to work on the eastbound shoulder.
The right lane in I-64 East from Fort Eustis Boulevard (exit 250) to Jefferson Avenue (exit 255) will be closed between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. through Friday morning as initial work on the first segment of the widening begins.
The closures, weather-permitting, will allow crews to mill and pave the shoulder lane.
No daytime closures for the widening work are planned at this time.
The first phase of the widening project – projected to cost about $122 million – will add one lane and one shoulder in each direction for the 5.6 miles between Jefferson Avenue in Newport News and Route 143 in York County (exit 247).
VDOT will make weekly announcements regarding lane closures and construction information for the duration of the first phase, which is scheduled for completion in December 2017.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe joined other state and transportation officials for a ceremonial groundbreaking for the first phase last week on Chatham Trail in Newport News.
“As we break ground on the first segment of an expanded I-64, we are on our way to reducing congestion and delays, improving traffic safety, and providing better access for emergency evacuation on I-64 in the Hampton Roads region,” McAuliffe said at the ceremony. “… This project is a perfect example of making decisions at the local and regional level so that transportation funds get spent in a way that truly makes peoples’ lives better.”
The entire I-64 widening, which will happen in three phases, will stretch to the second Route 199 interchange in York County (exit 234).
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- VDOT: First Phase of I-64 Widening to Be Finished By December 2017
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- York Supervisors Remove I-64 Widening from Legislative Priority List
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- VDOT Hosts Public Hearing on I-64 Widening
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