Contractor crews working with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are planning overnight full closures of King Street at the I-64 overpass in Hampton. The closures are scheduled to begin as early as March 3 and will support the installation of girders for bridge widening on I-64, which is part of the Hampton Roads Express Lanes (HREL) Hampton Segment project.
All lanes on King Street will be closed overnight at the I-64 overpass starting Tuesday, March 3, and Wednesday, March 4. A backup date is set for March 5. The closures will take place from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., and signed detours will be provided. Only local traffic will be allowed on King Street between E. Mercury Boulevard and the I-64 overpass, and between E. Pembroke Avenue and the I-64 overpass.
For southbound traffic on King Street, drivers will need to use a detour via E. Mercury Boulevard to E. Pembroke Avenue before continuing south on King Street. Northbound traffic will follow a detour from E. Pembroke Avenue to E. Mercury Boulevard to continue north.
The work schedule depends on weather and other factors, so it may change.
VDOT reminds motorists: “Motorists are reminded to use caution when traveling near work zones, obey posted speed limits, follow lane markings and barrier guides, be alert to digital message signs and drive distraction-free.”
Before traveling, drivers are encouraged to check VDOT’s free 511 Virginia traffic tools or use the Waze GPS app integrated with 511 for current road conditions. VDOT’s 511Virginia website and mobile app provide updates about construction, incidents, congestion, access to traffic cameras, weather impacts and more.
The HREL Hampton Segment project involves converting three existing east- and westbound general purpose lanes on I-64 into one Express Lane, one part-time Express Lane, and two general purpose lanes in each direction. The project includes widening I-64, repaving existing lanes, and adding an additional 12-foot-wide travel lane in each direction from west of Mallory Street (exit 268) to LaSalle Avenue (exit 265A), covering about two miles. It also includes work on six mainline bridges and one pedestrian underpass; two eastbound bridges over the Hampton River will be replaced while the westbound bridge will be widened and rehabilitated.
According to VDOT: “The HREL Hampton 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.” More information about these projects can be found at 64expresslanes.org.
VDOT is responsible for building, maintaining and operating Virginia’s roads, bridges and tunnels as part of its mission for a safe transportation system (official website). The agency manages one of America’s largest state highway systems with tens of thousands of lane-miles across Virginia (official website). Services include highway maintenance, traffic management through platforms like Virginia 511 (official website), oversight of land-use permits along state routes (official website), planning construction projects (official website), as well as maintaining headquarters at 1221 East Broad Street in Richmond (official website). The department originated from the State Highway Commission formed in 1906 (official website).
