The first segment of the project, now under construction by Shirley Contracting, runs approximately 5.6 miles in Newport News, roughly from Route 143/Jefferson Avenue (Exit 255) to Route 238/Yorktown Road (Exit 247). To provide immediate congestion relief here, the proposed improvements include the addition of one 12-foot-wide travel lane and one 12-foot-wide shoulder, in each direction, to widen the existing four-lane section to six lanes. The widening will occur in the median of the existing interstate, limiting the amount of right of way required to construct the project and avoid impacts to existing interchanges. Existing bridges within the corridor will be widened to the inside providing the same typical section as the roadway. Segment 1 is expected to be complete by the end of 2017 at a cost of $122 million.
Segment 2 of the project, which has been awarded to Allen-Myers VA Inc, continues the widening through Newport News and James City and York counties from where Segment 1 ends, close to Route 238/Yorktown Road (Exit 247), to about a mile west of Route 199/Humelsine Parkway/Marquis Center Parkway near Exit 242. The proposed improvements for this segment include pavement reconstruction of existing lanes and additional 12-foot wide travel lanes and 12-foot wide shoulder lanes, and widening of nine existing bridges and six box culverts that lie inside the project limits. As with Segment 1, the widening is to occur in the median of the existing interstate. Segment 2 is expected to be completed in Spring 2019 at a cost of $189.7 million.
No schedule or cost is available yet for Segment 3, which is located in York County and extends the project to approximately 1.0 mile west of Route 199/Newman Road (Exit 234). More details on this project are available on the VDOT’s project web site.