NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — While proposed improvements at the I-64/I-264 interchange are expected to bring relief to what can be a traffic nightmare, nearby residents fear the potential nightmare of more traffic that could come to their neighborhood streets.
The Virginia Department of Transportation held a public meeting Thursday at Lake Taylor Middle School to talk about Phase III of its interchange improvement project — a proposal to add a lane to I-64, build a new two-lane bridge to I-264 eastbound, a separate lane to go to I-264 westbound and a part-time toll lane, something that raised concern also.
VDOT said the project, when completed, would add capacity and reduce congestion on I-64, while also improving safety and traffic operations. The entire improvement project for the interstate started back in 2016, and the first two phases of the project were completed in 2019 and 2023. The overall project is estimated to be completed by spring of 2030 and would cost an estimated $519.6 million.
While the first two phases tackled issues heading westbound, Phase III will address eastbound problems.
“We’re adding a lane from Northampton Boulevard interchange, that on ramp, and that will continue to the 264 interchange and we’ll be replacing that single flyover bridge that goes to 264 eastbound with a two lane bridge,” said VDOT Project Manager Claudia Walsh, “and a separate lane that’ll go to 264 westbound and then we will have improvements where we tie in on 264, and then 64 eastbound will continue with a part time tolled express lane from Northampton that will tie in to the express lane in Chesapeake.”
While having to pay a toll raised some concern, residents in the Maple Hall Hollywood Homes neighborhood in Norfolk say they are worried about the possibility of traffic on residential streets from this project.
“The traffic congestion down Kempsville [Road] everyday from Northampton [Boulevard] all the way to 264, so all these residents are locked into this area and this is their primary route to get out of their neighborhood,” resident Jimmy Harris said.
Harris and other residents said they hope VDOT listens to these concerns.
“If you congest the residents that are already congested, then we can’t get out of our neighborhoods,” Harris said.
Said Walsh: “Once it’s open it actually should keep people from wanting to do that because they’ll be able to move more freely on the interstate.”
The proposed project is in the preliminary engineering phase and residents can provide feedback on the project through Nov. 3. You can click here for more information. Comments can also be submitted in writing to Claudia.Walsh@VDOT.Virginia.gov.