PROJECT UPDATE
May 5, 2021
I-64 Widening Segment III Project Update
With 2020 behind us, many more motorists have been venturing back out on the roads again and may have seen the exciting progress on the I-64 Widening Segment III Project during their commutes and travels through the corridor. With project completion in sight for the end of 2021, here are the latest updates on the project thus far and what is to come.
Travel Lanes: At this time, traffic in both directions within the project corridor have been shifted over to the new inside travel lanes in the former median area to allow for reconstruction of the outside existing lanes. It is important to note that the final driving surface of these new inside lanes currently in use has not yet been placed. Once the reconstruction phase is complete on the outside existing lanes, a 2-inch layer of surface mix asphalt will be placed on both the new and reconstructed lanes, which will create a smooth surface across all lanes.

With traffic shifted over, work continues on the full reconstruction of the outside travel lanes and shoulders. Current activities associated with this phase include roadway grading, soil stabilization and sub- and base-layer pavement construction, including the award-winning* recycling processes—Full Depth Reclamation (FDR) and Cold Central Plant Recycling (CCPR).

Other construction activities currently underway also include clearing and grubbing, construction on stormwater management facilities, drainage systems and signage installation and ongoing maintenance activities.
Bridge Construction:
The rehabilitation and widening of the Colonial Parkway overpass bridges has been completed, while also successfully matching and maintaining the historic aesthetics of the existing Colonial Parkway bridges and corridor through specialized custom brick masonry.
While the widening of the Lakeshead Drive overpass bridges has been completed, crews are finalizing the rehabilitation work on the bridges. All bridgework on Lakeshead Drive bridges is estimated to be complete within the next month.
At the Queens Creek Bridges, the construction of a new westbound bridge has been completed, and construction on the new eastbound bridge will be completed this month (see feature below). Once the eastbound bridge is complete, eastbound and westbound traffic will be shifted to allow for the demolition and construction of the outside remaining portion of the previously-existing westbound bridge.
Milestone Traffic Shift at Queens Creek Bridges
Eastbound and Westbound Traffic Shifts Scheduled for Week of May 10
QCB April 2021
The finishing touches are being made to the brand new eastbound Queens Creek Bridge to allow for the placement of traffic, which is estimated to take place as early as the week of May 10—weather permitting. Eastbound traffic on I-64 will be shifted first, from its current configuration on the new future westbound bridge to the newly constructed eastbound Queens Creek Bridge. Once the eastbound shift is complete, crews will spend the next evening shifting westbound traffic from the previously-existing outside portion of the westbound bridge to the new inside westbound Queens Creek Bridge. Once complete, traffic traveling eastbound on I-64 will be utilizing the final eastbound bridge, and westbound traffic will be utilizing the new westbound bridge. Once this new traffic pattern is in place, demolition and construction of the remaining portion of the westbound bridge will begin.
Pictured above and below: Crews placing noise wall posts along the eastbound Queens Creek Bridge parapet wall.
Stay tuned for a traffic shift schedule update to come via email, the I-64 Widening website, and our VDOT Hampton Roads Facebook group.
Transparent & Concrete Noise Walls Underway
As part of the I-64 Widening Segment III Project, more than 2 miles of noise walls are being installed along the corridor, which are estimated to be complete by early summer 2021.

Three hundred feet of these noise walls, located at the eastbound Queens Creek bridge, will be transparent, as compared to the other noise barriers being constructed along the corridor that will have a rustic red brick-like pattern intended to match the historic Colonial Parkway’s brick as closely as possible.

The 300-foot transparent noise wall currently being constructed along the new eastbound Queens Creek bridge will reduce highway noise while also preserving motorist visibility of the scenic view of Queens Creek. The clear panels are also designed with safety to birds in mind as well, as each panel will also have thin black vertical stripes running across each panel to help deter birds from flying into them.
The noise wall at the Queens Creek bridge will be made up of a concrete parapet wall attached to the Queens Creek bridge and multiple window-like panels placed on top of the parapet wall. Each window panel will be just over 3 feet high, and will be stacked five panels high. Estimated to be complete May 2021, the concrete parapet wall will be approximately 3 feet, 6 inches high and each vertical section of panels will add another 15 feet, 8 inches above the parapet wall.

Construction of the concrete noise walls continues along I-64 east and west which includes the pouring and drilling of foundations and setting posts and panels. The noise wall posts are 100 percent complete, and approximately 85 percent of the panels have been set.
*Project’s Innovative Recycling Wins Award
The second segment of the I-64 Widening Project was recently selected as the winner of a 2021 Roads & Bridges/ARRA Recycling Award for their innovative incorporation of recycled materials as well as the Full Depth Reclamation and Cold Central Plant recycling processes. This industry award honors the top asphalt road recycling projects in North America. 
 
These same processes are also being used in the third segment of the project, making the two segments of I-64 Widening Project collectively the largest recycling initiative currently underway in North America, and the second largest in the world. Over the course of the I-64 Widening projects, it is estimated that nearly 1.2 million tons of recycled materials will be used and an estimated $15 million will be saved.

For more information on how VDOT is using these processes on the I-64 Widening projects, visit the I-64 Widening website page.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Lane Closures:
Each week's scheduled lane and ramp closures can be found on the project website on the Traffic Alerts page. All construction work and closures are dependent upon weather conditions.

A consecutive, long-term full ramp closure on Route 143 Merrimac Trail north to I-64 west continues. Traffic will follow detour signage in place directing motorists to the Route 143 south on-ramp to I-64 west during the closure.

A consecutive, long-term full ramp closure and diversion on the existing Route 199 west on-ramp to I-64 west in Lightfoot continues. Westbound traffic on Route 199 follow detour signage in place directing motorists to a new temporary median crossover to access the Route 199 east on-ramp to I-64 west during the closure.
REDUCED SPEED AHEAD
Please obey the reduced 55 mph speed limit which is in effect 24/7 in both the east- and westbound work zones of the project, between the eastern Segment II project limits near Yorktown Road (exit 247) and the western Segment III project limits near Route 199/Lightfoot (exit 234).