The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has advertised a $120 million project to rehabilitate 163 lane-miles of I-264 and I-64 in the Hampton Roads region. Contracts are scheduled to be awarded by the end of the year, with construction beginning early next year. In the meantime, VDOT continues to address deteriorating sections of pavement.
"This critical project is made possible by the historic funding package signed into law this week," said Gov. Bob McDonnell. "As a result of the bipartisan effort in the General Assembly to increase transportation funding, VDOT has the resources to fully rehabilitate I-264 and I-64 in the southside region of Hampton Roads. There will be more construction activity to follow as the new law provides $1.3 billion in additional funding for transportation improvements throughout the Hampton Roads region."
"Motorists will begin to see more activity on the roadway as a result of the new funding," said Transportation Secretary Sean Connaughton. "Pavement and bridge restoration is under way statewide and will increase significantly with the new revenue sources."
VDOT Commissioner Greg Whirley added, "VDOT is working aggressively to get projects advertised so improvements can begin as soon as possible. Rehabilitating I-64 and I-264 in the southside is among the top immediate priorities to extend the life of the state's aging highway system and to provide a safer and better driving surface for motorists."
During the past three months, VDOT and its contractor crews have made great strides in repairing the aging concrete sections of I-64 and I-264. Currently, VDOT has five active concrete pavement rehabilitation contracts working on those sections. VDOT is also working to expedite contracts to overlay these repaired sections of interstate with a thin layer of asphalt. This thin layer of asphalt is a critical piece of the ultimate overlay of the interstate and will be implemented on several sections of the interstate as early as this fall.
VDOT issued a formal request for qualifications (RFQ) to the engineering and construction industry on three new design-build contracts that will overlay the newly rehabilitated concrete with a smooth driving surface, making the road look like new.
Once RFQ packages are received, VDOT will evaluate the submittals and issue a more detailed request for proposals (RFP) to a limited number of design-build teams. The three contracts will encompass parts of I-64 and I-264, and each will execute major rehabilitative pavement activities on specific areas of the respective interstates.
