I-66 Widening from Gainesville to Haymarket Begins in April

VDOT will add two lanes, one (HOV) high occupancy vehicle and one regular, in each direction, by August 2016.

Residents should expect lane closures Sunday nights thru Thursday nights. VDOT expects the $73.5 million project will improve traffic flow to and from Haymarket, western Prince William and eastern Fauquier counties and provide a continuous stretch of three regular lanes and one HOV lane in each direction for 25 miles, from I-495 to Route 15. "The first improvement will be adding a left turn lane on the westbound I-66 ramp to Route 15 where traffic backs up during the evening rush," VDOT Communications Manager Joan Morris said. "That work begins April 7 and will be complete by the end of June." Motorists can expect a left shoulder closure and occasional off-peak lane closures. "On or about April 13 and for the next two months, crews will mill and pave I-66, first westbound and then eastbound, in preparation for a traffic shift," she said. VDOT will perform this work at night for the least impact on traffic. According to VDOT, the widening project also includes:

• Reconstruction of two overpasses at Catharpin Road and Old Carolina Road/S. Jefferson Street to include a ten-foot shared-use path on each bridge • Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) components for managing traffic volumes, improving flow and enhanced incident response • Overhead sign structures • Utility relocations • Storm drainage and storm water management facilities • Retaining walls, sound barriers and roadway lighting on the two overpasses • 12-foot paved shoulders

Residents can keep up to date on the project by visiting:  http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/northernvirginia/i-66_widening.asp.