RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) continues to study the stretch of Interstate 64 between Richmond and Newport News, as drivers complain about constant backups and weekend gridlock.
On Tuesday, traffic backed up for nine miles on I-64 East in New Kent County after a crash.
Hundreds of drivers sat in standstill traffic for several hours.
Although VDOT is conducting the study for the eventual widening of the stretch of I-64 between Richmond and Newport News, so far funding has only been made available to widen a five-mile stretch of the road in Newport News.
When more dollars are set aside, two more segments of I-64 near Newport News will be widened next, changes drivers said are desperately needed.
“All the way to the Hampton Roads bridge tunnel it's terrible,” said driver Kendra Mitchell.
The state does eventually want to widen the stretch of I-64 between Williamsburg and Richmond.
Adding a lane in each direction in the median or putting those lanes in the shoulder areas are both under consideration.
Another option is adding HOT lanes (toll lanes) or HOV lanes in the median.
“If it meant faster travel times and less traffic, I would be in favor of it,” driver Sebastian Symeonides said.
But, don’t expect those changes anytime soon because there is no funding in the budget for the next six years for anything west of Williamsburg.
“It would be nice, but in Virginia, things go at a crawl sometimes,” said driver Steven White.
