The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel will now cost $3.56 billion to build two new lane tunnels along Interstate 64 in select parts of Hampton and Norfolk.
The agreement to fund the project was approved Thursday by the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission in partnership with the Virginia Department of Transportation.
“The Project Agreement for Funding and Administration (PAFA) we are authorizing today (Thursday) would not be possible without unprecedented cooperation between HRTAC’s local and state leaders, VDOT and the Commonwealth Transportation Board,” said Michael Hipple, chairman of the HRTC. “Together, we have worked to provide regional solutions and partnerships that ensure future congestion relief and connectivity throughout the region.”
According to the HRTAC’s announcement, the commission will use money from the Hampton Roads Transportation Fund, which consists of regional and gas taxes, to pay for 95 percent of the project. Other sources of funding come from VDOT and the federal government.
Other project funding includes $200 million from the state’s SMART SCALE program and $108 million from VDOT to fund the replacement of the South Island Trestle Bridges in Norfolk.
The original cost estimate for the project was $3.3 billion. It’s not clear what other adjustments were made to the original contract.
Kevin Page, executive director of the HRTAC, said Del. David Yancey, R-Newport News, played a part in getting the HRBT expansion moving.
“He did a good job on that,” page said.
Construction starts in April and is expected to complete by November, 1, 2025.
The Hampton Roads Connector Partners is the design team. A groundbreaking is scheduled for next month.
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