The Virginia Department of Transportation announced on May 21 that a long-term traffic split is scheduled to begin as early as overnight May 29 on I-64 east at Tidewater Drive (exits 277A and 277B) in Norfolk. This change is part of ongoing construction for the Hampton Roads Express Lanes Norfolk Segment.
The new traffic pattern will close the inside lane of I-64 east, shifting its traffic left onto the inside shoulder, which will serve as a temporary travel lane. The two remaining eastbound lanes will stay open on the right side of the work zone, keeping three lanes available for motorists through this area. Drivers seeking access to Tidewater Drive via exits 277A or 277B must use the outside right travel lanes. The traffic split is expected to remain until mid-to-late summer 2026, though all schedules are subject to weather and other factors.
Implementation of this pattern will take place over several nights and include overnight lane and ramp closures from about 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. The long-term full closure of the on-ramp from southbound Tidewater Drive to I-64 east will also continue through late summer 2026, with drivers able to access I-64 east using a new left turn at Thole Street.
Motorists are advised by VDOT to exercise caution near work zones, follow posted speed limits and lane markings, watch digital message signs, and avoid distractions while driving. Before traveling, drivers can check real-time road conditions using VDOT’s free Virginia 511 tools or Waze app; these services provide information about construction updates, incidents, congestion levels, weather impacts, and more according to the official website.
This work is part of Phase 1A for HREL’s Norfolk Segment construction projects that began in summer 2023. It involves converting an existing inside shoulder along I-64 into a high-occupancy tolled express lane between Patrol Road and Tidewater Drive—a stretch covering two miles—and includes widening or rehabilitating several bridges along this corridor.
Eventually, this segment will connect with an overall continuous network spanning approximately forty-five miles from west of Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News through Chesapeake’s Bowers Hill interchange. As regional demand grows for roadway capacity and reliability in Hampton Roads communities, officials say dynamic tolling combined with other interstate improvements offers additional options for managing congestion over time.
