Old Dominion News

Contractor crews from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are set to begin a long-term temporary traffic shift on I-64 west in Norfolk, starting as early as overnight on February 10. The shift will occur between Tidewater Drive (exit 277) and Patrol Road.

The new roadway configuration involves closing one I-64 west mainline lane near East Little Creek Road (exit 276C) until late 2025. Motorists heading west toward the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) will have access to a newly constructed temporary general-purpose lane alongside the existing Norfolk Reversible Express Lanes roadway. This alternate lane will be accessible via a new left entrance ramp on I-64 west after Tidewater Drive and before Little Creek Road. Concrete barriers will separate this lane from the Express Lanes traffic.

Drivers using the alternate lane can continue on I-64 west past Granby Street but won't have access to exits at East Little Creek Road, I-564, or Granby Street (exits 276 A/B/C). One mainline through-lane will remain open along I-64 west, providing access to all exits. The new alternate lane will merge back into the mainline past Patrol Road towards HRBT.

The implementation of this traffic shift is expected to take several nights, with work beginning as early as February 10, depending on weather and scheduling. Overnight closures are planned from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m., involving various single- and multi-lane closures and ramp closures on I-64 west. These include:

- 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 inside alternate lane on I-64 is expected to open within the first few nights of implementing the traffic shift. It will be available before one full overnight closure of the mainline lanes between Tidewater Drive and Patrol Road when all traffic will use this new inside lane for that evening.

VDOT encourages motorists to use its free 511 Virginia traffic tools or the Waze GPS app for updated road conditions before traveling. The VDOT's 511 website and mobile app provide information about construction, traffic incidents, congestion, and more.

This project is part of phase one of the HREL Norfolk Segment construction projects initiated in summer 2023. It includes converting the existing inside shoulder along I-64 into a high occupancy tolled part-time shoulder Express Lane alongside three general-purpose lanes between Patrol Road and Tidewater Drive over two miles, along with widening and rehabilitating several bridges on I-64.