RELEASE:

CONTACT:
IMMEDIATE

Dawn Eischen (804) 524-6179
Richmondinfo@VDOT.Virginia.gov

RICH-0713

March 12, 2007



I-64 TRAFFIC TO BE DETOURED TWO NIGHTS FOR I-295 FLYOVER PROJECT

HENRICO/GOOCHLAND COUNTIESCrews successfully placed two of four steel beams over I-64 east at the Pouncey Tract Road bridge last Wednesday night as part of the I-295 flyover project in western Henrico County.Workers install beam over Interstate 64

The remaining two beams will be placed over I-64 east Monday night, which will require I-64 east motorists to use a detour for an additional night. The detours are necessary for motorist safety.

The contractor decided it would be best to place one to two beams per night rather than four, said Ray Johnston, VDOT project manager. This will allow them to permanently set the beams in place without the need for additional nighttime lane closures.

The following I-64 detours will be implemented this week, weather permitting:
  1. March 12  Motorists will be detoured off I-64 east at exit 175/Route 288 onto Broad Street and back onto I-64 east at exit 178 from 10 p.m. Mon., March 12 through 5:30 a.m. Tues., March 13. Crews will be placing steel beams over I-64 east at the Pouncey Tract Road bridge. This detour will only affect those traveling through the Short Pump area on I-64 east. Expect delays. (see eastbound detour map)

  2. March 15  Motorists will be detoured off I-64 west at exit 178 to Broad Street west and back onto I-64 west via Route 288 north from 10 p.m. Thur., March 15 through 5:30 a.m. Fri., March 16. In addition, motorists from I-295 will be unable to access I-64 west. Instead, they will be directed to exit 178 from I-64 east and will continue on Broad Street west to Route 288 north and then I-64 west. Crews will be placing steel beams over I-64 west at the Pouncey Tract Road bridge. This detour will only affect those traveling through the Short Pump area on I-64 west (see westbound detour map). Expect delays. I-64 west motorists will continue to have access to I-295.
Additional detours for I-64 west will be needed the week of March 19. Detour schedule to be announced.

Once the detour is in place, a crane will be used to set the steel beams each night over the interstate at Pouncey Tract Road. Each beam is 20.6 tons, 124 feet long and six feet wide. The current two-lane bridge is being widened to four lanes, with completion expected in spring 2008. Motorists on Pouncey Tract Road will continue to have two lanes of travel during the beam placements.

I-64 detours similar to these will be needed for steel beam placement on the new I-295 flyover bridge over I-64. All detours will take place from 10 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. and will involve temporarily re-directing travelers to Broad Street. The entire project is scheduled for completion in spring 2009. For detour maps, the project schedule and more information about the I-295 flyover project Web site.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.


Page last modified: March 13, 2007