A new long-term traffic pattern on Interstate 64 westbound in Norfolk is set to begin as early as April 9, according to a statement released by the Virginia Department of Transportation. The change will shift westbound traffic toward the outside lanes between Tidewater Drive (exit 277A) and Granby Street (exit 276A), allowing construction work to continue on the Hampton Roads Express Lanes Norfolk Segment.
The project aims to improve travel options and manage congestion as demand increases in the region. The new configuration will remain until late summer 2026, with ongoing work including roadway improvements, barrier setting, striping, bridge rehabilitation, and signage installation.
To implement this shift, temporary overnight ramp closures are scheduled from approximately 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., affecting off-ramps to Granby Street and Little Creek Road as well as the on-ramp from Tidewater Drive. Not all ramps will be closed at once; detour routes will be posted for drivers during these periods. Motorists are reminded that a free temporary general purpose lane remains open inside I-64 west’s mainline and can only be accessed or exited at specific points.
VDOT advises drivers to use caution near work zones by obeying speed limits, following lane markings and barriers, staying alert for digital signs, and avoiding distractions while driving. Up-to-date information about road conditions is available through VDOT’s free 511 Virginia tools or Waze app integration.
This phase of construction began in summer 2023 and involves converting an existing shoulder into a high-occupancy tolled express lane alongside three general-purpose lanes over two miles between Patrol Road and Tidewater Drive. It also includes widening and rehabilitating several bridges along I-64. The completed segment will become part of a continuous forty-five-mile express lanes network stretching from Newport News to Chesapeake. An interactive map displaying current long-term impacts is available on VDOT’s Long-Term Traffic Impacts page via the HREL website (64expresslanes.org).
Norfolk encompasses about 235,000 residents according to the city’s official facts page according to the official facts page. The city supports cultural institutions such as the Virginia Opera and Chrysler Museum of Art as detailed on its facts page, features landmarks like USS Wisconsin battleship and Half Moone Cruise Center according to city data, extends across seven miles of Chesapeake Bay shoreline with a total shoreline length of one hundred forty-four miles according to city records, has government led by a mayor with seven council members who set policy as noted by its government page, and uses an historic seal depicting ships reflecting its port heritage alongside agricultural symbols as per city history documents.
As work continues through summer next year, motorists are encouraged by officials to stay informed about changing patterns using available resources before traveling.
