Under Construction: Longhill Road Widening

The 2014 Longhill Road Corridor Study, conducted by James City County, proposed various improvements to Longhill Road to relieve congestion, improve safety, and enhance other forms of transit. The Study can be viewed on the James City County website here https://jamescitycountyva.gov/484/Longhill-Road-Corridor-Study. 

Based on the study, this project has widened Longhill Road from two lanes to a 4-lane, median divided typical section from 465 feet east of Williamsburg West Drive to 1,082 feet west of the Olde Towne Road/Devon Road intersection. A 10-foot shared-use path along the north side of the roadway has also been constructed.

The design maintained and implemented desirable access management strategies, such as right-in/right-out/channelized left-turn lanes. The improvements also included the addition of a roundabout at Longhill Road and Williamsburg Plantation Drive, signal system wireless interconnect, construction of bus pull-off areas, and pedestrian improvements (a shared-use path, crosswalks and pedestrian push buttons). The outside lane will have extra width to accommodate cyclists.

During construction, access will be maintained for local businesses and residences.

View the 3D Traffic Model of Proposed Improvements After Construction video.

Benefits 

This project is intended to relieve congestion on Longhill Road by widening from two lanes to four lanes separated by a raised median, as well as enhance bicycle, pedestrian and bus accommodations. 

Major Milestones 

All right of way has been acquired and the first phase of utility relocations from Route 199 to Olde Towne Square has been completed. The second phase of utility relocations for the rest of the project corridor is currently underway.

On Wednesday, September 18, 2019, the Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded the $10.2 million construction contract to Branscome Inc. of Williamsburg. 

Phase schedule is currently estimated to take place as follows:

Phase 1: Winter 2019 - Fall 2020
Widening Longhill Road from just east of Lane Place to about 100 feet west of Williamsburg Plantation Drive

Phase 2: Fall 2020 - Fall 2021
Widening Longhill Road from just west of Williamsburg Plantation Drive to just east of Glenburnie Road. Also includes construction of the turn lanes on Olde Towne Road at the intersection. 

Phase 3: Fall 2021 - Spring 2023
Final roadway milling and paving, landscaping, roadway lighting, pavement markings, etc. Also placing final surface mix layer on east- and westbound Olde Towne Road/Devon Road at the Longhill Road intersection. Final punchlist items. 

Project Updates

Nov. 2019: News Release: Construction Begins on Longhill Road Improvements Project

Jan./Feb. 2020: Project Status Update

Feb. 11, 2020: Traffic Update--Upcoming Scheduled Lane Closures

April 3, 2020: Traffic Update--Upcoming Scheduled Lane Closures & Westbound Traffic Shift

Dec. 1, 2020: Traffic Update--Upcoming Traffic Shift in Both Directions and New Traffic Patterns

May 17, 2021: Traffic Update--Temporary Traffic Shifts and Devon Road Closure Scheduled to Begin May 19

Aug. 2, 2021: Traffic Update--Temporary Traffic Shifts and Devon Road to Reopen as early as Aug. 3

Sept. 23, 2021: Traffic Update--Daytime Flagging Operations Scheduled on Longhill Road for Underground Pipe Placement

Sept. 27, 2021: Traffic Update--Additional Day and Nighttime Flagging Operations Scheduled on Longhill Road for Underground Pipe Placement

Sept. 30, 2021: Traffic Update--Temporary Entrance Access Changes from Longhill Road to the 7-Eleven Gas Station & Additional Underground Pipe Placement Flagging Operations

Oct. 13, 2021: Traffic Update--Temporary Business Entrance Closures on Longhill Road

Oct. 22, 2021: Traffic Update--Temporary Traffic Shift Scheduled in Western Limits of Project

Oct. 27, 2021: Traffic Update--Temporary Traffic Shift Rescheduled and Flagging Operations

Jan. 7, 2022: Traffic Update--New Traffic Patterns and Temporary Traffic Shifts Scheduled for Longhill Road Widening Project

March 16, 2022: Traffic Update--New Traffic Pattern Scheduled to Begin at Intersection of Longhill Road and Williamsburg West Drive

March 30, 2022: Traffic Update--New Traffic Signal Activation and Traffic Patterns Scheduled to Begin at Olde Towne Road/Devon Road Intersection and Along Longhill Road