HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — A significant traffic shift at the entrance of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel began overnight, as part of the HRBT’s major expansion project.
According to VDOT Communications Manager Paula Miller, the first vehicle crossed onto the new eastbound bridge around 1 a.m. on Friday, May 3. Originally VDOT said May 1 was the target date, but crews had to finish up the final touches.
The traffic shift will affect drivers traveling from Hampton to Norfolk on Interstate 64. Traffic will permanently shift to the right at the Hampton shoreline onto the newly constructed North Trestle.
Crews will begin work to demolish the previous trestle (the Old North Trestle in the image below) now that the shift is complete.
Digital signage will be in place to direct traffic.
The shift comes about two weeks after another major development in the expansion. Mary the tunnel boring machine completed the first of two new tunnels for the project. The overall project, which started in November 2020, is now not expected to be fully complete until August 2027.
When the expansion is completed, there will be two tunnels going both north and south at the HRBT.
VDOT has a video of what things will look like on their YouTube.