
YORK COUNTY — The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) marked the completion of the eight-mile widening and improvements project on I-64 in York County with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The event was held on Monday, Dec. 20 at one of the project’s widened and rehabilitated bridges over the Colonial Parkway, which consists of roughly 60,000 custom-made bricks and masonry work to fit the parkway’s historic aesthetics.
“Today marks the completion of the third segment of the I-64 Widening Project, expanding capacity and unlocking congestion on a vital economic corridor,” Virginia Secretary of Transportation Shannon Valentine said. “This work represents an investment in the economic competitiveness of the Hampton Roads and Richmond regions – and our Commonwealth.”
The I-64 Widening Segment III Project was completed in its entirety within budget and on time, meeting the Dec. 17 completion date, by Shirley Contracting and Dewberry design-build team, which was awarded the $178.3 million design-build contract in December 2017.
In addition to the Colonial Parkway bridges, the project’s improvements included the widening of approximately eight miles of I-64, from two travel lanes to three in each direction, between Route 199/Newman Road in Lightfoot (exit 234) and Route 199/Humelsine Parkway (exit 242), along with a full replacement of two bridges over Queens Creek.
The project also saw the widening and rehabilitation of four overpass bridges over Lakeshead Drive and the Colonial Parkway.
“While the successful completion and opening of eight miles of new travel lanes is a significant accomplishment in York County, this development is part of a larger, improved travel experience for motorists across the Peninsula and beyond Hampton Roads,” VDOT Commissioner Stephen Brich said. “Connecting with the previously completed I-64 widening projects enhances connectivity throughout the region for commerce, tourism and local commuters.”
The first two segments of the I-64 widening projects were completed in 2017 and 2019.
The Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission (HRTAC) was responsible for funding and contracting with VDOT to construct this large-scale project.
“We celebrate the completion and operation of the I-64 Peninsula Segment III Project, which marks the third project of a series of I-64 widening and improvement projects on the Peninsula that VDOT and HRTAC have partnered on,” HRTAC Chair and Mayor of Hampton Donnie Tuck said. “Together, we’ve completed a total of 21 directional miles—or 126 lane miles—of new construction or reconstruction of the interstate, now open to motorists and contributing to congestion relief across the Virginia Peninsula.”
Along with new lanes, the project also provided an improved driving surface because of the reconstruction of the previous travel lanes, a new signalized intersection at the I-64 east off-ramp to Route 143, stormwater management facilities and drainage improvements and more than two miles of noise walls and corridor-wide landscaping.
The ceremony was also attended by Congresswoman Elaine Luria, who said that she hopes the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package of $110 billion dedicated to roads, bridges and tunnels in Virginia will help to expand the remainder of I-64.
For more information about the I-64 Widening Segment III Project, visit here.