Contractor crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation are scheduled to replace two overhead sign structures on Interstate 664 at the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel in Newport News and Suffolk, according to a May 7 announcement. The work will take place overnight over two weekends, May 9-10 and May 16-17.
The planned project is expected to cause intermittent stoppages of up to 45 minutes in both directions starting as early as 10 p.m. each night. After each stoppage, traffic queues will be cleared before the next closure begins. Motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes during these times to minimize delays.
The traffic stoppages are set for May 9 between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., May 10 between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., May 16 between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., and May 17 between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., with backup nights scheduled for May 30-31 if needed. In addition, single-lane closures will occur overnight from as early as 8 p.m. until as late as eight o’clock the following morning on those same dates.
All work is dependent on weather conditions and scheduling, so changes may occur if necessary.
According to the official website, the Virginia Department of Transportation manages one of the nation’s largest state highway systems, covering tens of thousands of lane-miles across Virginia; its responsibilities include building, maintaining, and operating roads, bridges, and tunnels; providing services such as highway maintenance, traffic management through systems like Virginia 511; oversight of land-use permits along state routes; serving as a state agency overseeing planning, construction, maintenance; having its headquarters in Richmond; and evolving since its origins in the State Highway Commission formed in 1906.
