Warner & Kaine Announce $143 Million Federal Loan for I-64 Improvements in Hampton Roads
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Mark R. Warner and Tim Kaine announced the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission will receive a loan of up to $143,000,000 to widen I-64, which will help reduce congestion and improve travel times. The funding was approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)’s Build America Bureau’s Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) program, which provides credit assistance for projects of regional and national significance including highways, railroads, freight, and port access.
“I-64 is essential for many Virginians to get to work, school, and critical services, while also serving as an important asset to our defense community in Hampton Roads,” said the senators. “We’re glad the Hampton Roads Transportation Accountability Commission is receiving this loan to widen I-64, reduce congestion, and help Virginians get where they need to go.”
Specifically, the funding will be used to convert three existing eastbound and westbound general purpose (GP) lanes into two GP lanes, one full time express lane, and one part time express lane. The project will widen I-64 and add a 12-foot-wide travel lane in each direction from Settlers Landing Road (exit 267) to LaSalle Avenue (exit 265). The eastbound Hampton River bridges will be replaced, and the westbound Hampton River Bridge will be widened and rehabilitated.
Warner and Kaine have long supported efforts to improve infrastructure and I-64. Last year, the senators announced $25 million in federal funding to expand I-64. Warner and Kaine helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), which included $7 billion for Virginia highways and $537 million for Virginia bridge replacement and repairs over five years. This highway funding, which is allocated to Virginia each year, has helped spur the Commonwealth’s investment of hundreds of millions of dollars in I-64 improvements that are underway with the Virginia Department of Transportation. The BIL also reauthorized and expanded the TIFIA program to help fund future infrastructure projects like this. Kaine successfully included his bipartisan legislation in the BIL to streamline the application process for TIFIA loans, helping more Virginia communities access TIFIA financing.
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