Under study: widening I-64 to Richmond

The state is moving forward with a study to widen Interstate 64 between the Peninsula and Richmond.

But motorists who regularly get stuck in congestion there won't see relief any time soon because there's no money for construction.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will seek proposals this month for a planning and engineering study that will examine adding lanes to the highway, which regularly backs up during peak travel times.

VDOT Chief Engineer Malcolm Kerley said the agency combined $3.5 million in planning money to explore various scenarios to widen the highway between Interstate 664 in Hampton and Interstate 295 outside of Richmond. Most of that stretch is four lanes.

Kerley said the study will consider many questions, including how many lanes should be added, whether they should be high-occupancy vehicle lanes, and whether additional lanes should be built in the median or along the outer lanes of the four-lane section.

The study will take about three years, he said.

"I am very pleased with how quickly the new administration has acted in their efforts to address this critical transportation corridor on the Peninsula," Del. Glenn Oder, R-Newport News, said in a news release. "Anyone who lives in Hampton Roads knows that even if you build a bridge across the harbor but do not widen the interstate on the Peninsula, you will just create massive gridlock."

Sean Connaughton, state secretary of transportation, said, "We believe that the project will relieve congestion and help spur economic development in the region."

The study was announced by Oder on Wednesday, the same day that VDOT's finance director said that Hampton Roads will only have $2.3 billion in road construction money over the next 30 years. Local transportation officials said that's about half of previous long-range forecasts.

"This will give the department some options," Kerley said. "With the limited funding the department has now, we don't know yet what option would be most appropriate. Different people have different opinions."

One possibility is seeking a public-private partnership to build the project, an option touted by Gov. Bob McDonnell on the campaign trail. Those partnerships usually require a large infusion of public money or else tolls.

Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com