Interstate 66 Widening Begins Next Week

Road work is nothing new for residents of Gainesville and Haymarket, but a new $73.5 million construction project begins next week to improve the commute on Interstate 66, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Expected to be completed in August 2016, the work will create three regular lanes and one HOV lane in each direction from Route 29 in Gainesville to Route 15 in Haymarket. Currently there are just two lanes in each direction along the three-mile stretch.

VDOT warns motorists to look out for lane closures Sunday nights through Thursday nights.

According to VDOT:

The first improvement will be adding a left turn lane on the westbound I-66 ramp to Route 15 where traffic backs up during the evening rush.  That work begins April 7 and will be complete by the end of June. Motorists can expect a left shoulder closure and occasional off-peak lane closures.

On or about April 13 and for the next two months, crews will mill and pave I-66, first westbound and then eastbound, in preparation for a traffic shift. Motorist can expect nighttime lane closures for this work.

The widening project also includes:

• Reconstruction of two overpasses at Catharpin Road and Old Carolina Road/S. Jefferson Street to include a ten-foot shared-use path on each bridge
• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components for managing traffic volumes, improving flow and enhanced incident response
• Overhead sign structures
• Utility relocations
• Storm drainage and storm water management facilities
• Retaining walls, sound barriers and roadway lighting on the two overpasses
• 12-foot paved shoulders

Updates are available online.