Virginia Beach, VDOT and consultants present preferred design for I-264/Independence Boulevard interchange; $665.6 million estimate

City staff and consultant WSP presented a preferred design Wednesday for the I-264/Independence Boulevard interchange access project that removes two loop ramps, adds a flyover for a northbound-to-westbound movement and replaces the bridge over Independence Boulevard to allow additional interstate lanes and improved local connections.

The presentation, introduced by Dave Jarman of the city's public works department, was led by Kristen Bellfield of WSP, who said the Interchange Access Report (IAR) study began in August 2023 and has progressed through alternatives analysis and traffic modeling. "We narrowed down three alternatives and selected Alternative 3 as the preferred with some additional refinements," Bellfield said. She emphasized that the preferred design includes continuous sidewalks from Holland Road to Town Center and removes weaving movements that consultants say pose safety and congestion issues.

Why this matters: The recommended design aims to reduce the four weaving movements that currently complicate merging operations on Independence Boulevard and I-264 and to improve pedestrian and bicycle continuity across the corridor.

Consultant Tim Rainer presented cost, benefit and phasing estimates. The total project cost is currently estimated at $665,600,000, a figure that includes construction, inflation, right-of-way acquisitions and utility relocations and is projected to a 2032 construction year. Rainer said roughly $207,000,000 has been identified toward the project; "who pays the difference" remains to be determined through HR TPO/HRtech and VDOT funding processes. The consultant also reported a monetized travel-time benefit of roughly $15,000,000,000 over a 20-year analysis period (2032'2052), a figure derived from modeled travel-time savings and an economic value assigned to that saved time.

Phasing and schedule: The team described three funding/delivery phases designed to function independently. Phase 1 would focus on the Baxter Road interchange and the flyover (estimated at roughly $241 million); Phase 2 would include the I-264 bridge and ramps (about $179 million); Phase 3 would complete the north section (about $247 million). Staff said the full IAR must be approved by VDOT and the Federal Highway Administration before final design and that a citizen information meeting is targeted for early November with the final draft submitted for review in November or December.

Council questions and concerns centered on how removed loop ramps will affect local access (consultants said movements would be rerouted, typically to Baxter Road), pedestrian safety and connectivity across I-264, and exactly how funding will be assembled. Bellfield said sidewalks are included in all three alternatives and that removing uncontrolled loop ramps improves pedestrian safety by eliminating crossing points with merging traffic. City staff agreed to provide detailed traffic-volume data requested by council members after the meeting.

What happens next: The city and VDOT will finalize the IAR and public outreach materials; VDOT and FHWA reviews are required before moving to final design and construction funding discussions. HR TPO/HRtech will play a role in identifying how the remaining funding could be assembled and which phases might be advanced first.