A combination of sales and gasoline taxes will fund around 95% of the project costs for the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel Expansion Project, one of the largest transportation projects in Virginia’s history.

The Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission in late March approved the funding agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

The project is designed to add new interstate capacity and twin two-lane bored tunnels along nearly 10 miles of Interstate 64 between Hampton and Norfolk.

(Click to expand.) The project is designed to add new interstate capacity and twin two-lane bored tunnels along nearly 10 miles of Interstate 64 between Hampton and Norfolk. Source: VDOTThe existing 3.5-mile facility consists of two 2-lane immersed-tube tunnels on artificial islands, with trestle bridges to shore. These tunnels opened in 1957 (current westbound lanes) and 1976 (eastbound lanes) and are approximately 7,500 ft long. Traffic on these four lanes exceeds 100,000 vehicles per day during peak summer traffic.

The Project Agreement for Funding and Administration commits $3.56 billion for the I-64 expansion work. Other project funding includes $200 million from Virginia’s Smart Scale program and $108 million from VDOT to fund the replacement of the South Island Trestle Bridges in Norfolk.

Hampton Roads Connector Partners is the design-build team selected to deliver the project by Nov. 1, 2025. A construction contract is expected to be executed in early April. The contract contains an early completion incentive.

In May 2018, three teams were shortlisted to provide detailed construction bids for the project.

Hampton Roads Connector Partners is a joint venture with Dragados USA serving as lead contractor. Dragados is a unit of Madrid, Spain-based ACS Group. HDR and Mott MacDonald will serve as lead designers. The team also includes Flatiron Constructors, Vinci Construction and Dodin Campenon Bernard.