Motorists can expect temporary overnight lane and ramp closures to implement the westbound traffic shift beginning as early as Feb. 10
NORFOLK — Contractor crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are scheduled to implement a long-term temporary traffic shift on I-64 west between Tidewater Drive (exit 277) and Patrol Road in Norfolk as early as overnight Feb 10.
Under the new roadway configuration, one I-64 west mainline lane will be closed near East Little Creek Road (exit 276C) until late 2025. However, for motorists traveling west toward the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT), a new, temporary general purpose lane will open alongside the existing Norfolk Reversible Express Lanes roadway as an alternate lane for I-64 west traffic. This lane, which will ultimately become a westbound Express Lane in the future, will be accessed from a newly constructed left entrance ramp on I-64 west after Tidewater Drive (exit 277) and before Little Creek Road (exit 276C). Concrete barriers will be in place separating the Express Lanes traffic from this new alternate lane.
Motorists using the new alternate lane will only be able to continue on I-64 west after Granby Street. This lane will not have access to the East Little Creek Road, I-564 or Granby Street exits (exits 276 A/B/C). One I-64 west through lane will remain open along the existing mainline and will provide access to all exits along I-64 west. The new I-64 west alternate lane will merge back into the I-64 west mainline past Patrol Road and continue west toward the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT).
The work to implement the long-term traffic shift is anticipated to take place over several nights, starting as early as Feb. 10, weather and scheduling permitting. Overnight closures are scheduled to be implemented from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will require varying combinations of single- and multi-lane closures, along with ramp closures on I-64 west, including from:
- North and southbound Tidewater Drive to I-64 west
- I-64 west to Granby Street (exit 276A)
- I-64 west to I-564 west (exit 276B)
- I-64 west to East Little Creek Road (exit 276C)
- I-564 east to I-64 west
The new I-64 alternate inside lane is anticipated to open to traffic within the first nights of the traffic shift implementation. This alternate lane will be available prior to one full overnight closure of the mainline lanes on I-64 west between Tidewater Drive and Patrol Road, during which all I-64 west traffic will be directed to use the new inside alternate I-64 west lane that evening. During that same westbound mainline closure, traffic will still be able to access I-64 west exits to I-564 west (exit 276B) and East Little Creek Road (exit 276C). Following the full westbound mainline closure, the long-term mainline single-lane closure will be implemented over the remaining evenings of work between Tidewater Drive and Patrol Road through fall 2025.
Before hitting the road, consider using VDOT's free 511 Virginia traffic tools, or the free 511-integrated Waze GPS app, to check for the most up-to-date road and travel conditions. VDOT’s 511 website and mobile app offer information about construction, traffic, incidents, and congestion, as well as access to traffic cameras, weather-related impacts and more.
This work is part of the first phase of HREL Norfolk Segment construction projects, that started in summer 2023 and includes the conversion of the existing inside shoulder along I-64 into a high-occupancy tolled, part-time shoulder Express Lane running alongside the three existing general purpose lanes between Patrol Road and Tidewater Drive for a total of 2 miles, as well as the widening and rehabilitation of several existing bridges on I-64.
This HREL Norfolk Segment will ultimately become a part of an overall continuous 45-mile high-occupancy toll Express Lanes network on I-64, from west of Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News to the I-264/I-664 Bowers Hill interchange in Chesapeake. As traffic demand continues to increase in the region, incorporating the Express Lanes dynamic tolling model, together with other interstate improvements, provides an additional approach to managing congestion in the long term and providing more travel choices and a reliable travel network for Hampton Roads motorists. For more information on the Hampton Roads Express Lanes projects and to learn more about construction updates, traffic impacts and to sign-up to receive project updates, visit 64expresslanes.org.