A sampling of Virginia’s major road projects

HAMPTON ROADS

Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project
The state’s largest highway construction project is making steady progress, albeit now on an adjusted schedule. The $3.9 billion Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion will widen the four-lane segments of the 9.9-mile Interstate 64 corridor between Norfolk and Hampton to six lanes on land and eight under the water with twin two-lane tunnels. The Virginia Department of Transportation contracted with Hampton Roads Connector Partners, a joint venture led by Dragados USA, for the project. The contract originally ended in November 2025, but in March 2024, VDOT and its partners announced an amendment to the comprehensive agreement, including moving the substantial completion deadline to February 2027 and the final completion to August 2027.

In April 2024, a $70 million custom-built tunnel boring machine dubbed Mary reached North Island, completing the first bored tunnel after 51 weeks. On Oct. 17, 2024, it began boring back toward South Island and Norfolk to create the second tunnel, which it’s expected to emerge from in late summer or early fall. Crews have begun interior construction on the first tunnel.

In May 2024, the first new bridge at the HRBT in more than 50 years opened — the eastbound north trestle between Hampton and North Island. Work on the westbound north trestle and the south trestle continues, with traffic expected on the former in the second half of 2025 and on the latter in the second quarter of the year.

NORTHERN VIRGINIA

Improve 95
To address congestion on Interstate 95 near Fredericksburg, the more than $1 billion Improve 95 plan includes projects on sections of the interstate between Exit 126 and Exit 148, several of which have been completed. At Exit 126 in Spotsylvania County, the widening of the off-ramp from I-95 southbound and Route 1 southbound and safety improvements on Route 711 are expected to be completed in August.

SHENANDOAH VALLEY/ SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA

Interstate 81 improvements
The $3 billion I-81 Corridor Improvement Program, expected to be completed in 2035, includes more than 60 projects along 325 miles from Winchester to Bristol. Projects are in varying stages and include truck climbing lanes, highway widening and auxiliary lanes.

One larger project getting underway is a 7-mile widening of I-81 in Roanoke and Botetourt counties that will add a third northbound and southbound lane between Exits 143 and 150. In mid-July 2024, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded Roanoke-based Branch Civil a $362 million design-build contract for the project, which also includes replacing eight bridges and installing more than 8,500 feet of sound barrier along northbound lanes.

Coalfields Expressway
The proposed 115-mile Coalfields Expressway — U.S. Route 460/121 — is slated to run through Southwest Virginia (for about 50 miles) and southern West Virginia, boosting commerce and tourism. Construction is underway on a 4.81-mile, four-lane segment of Route 460/121 in Buchanan County.

The first phase is expected to cost $199 million and be completed late this year. The approximately $207 million second phase’s completion is expected in 2027.