Hampton segment: road widening, bridge replacements and overnight work planned through 2026

VDOT described work on the Hampton peninsula segment of the express lanes network, focusing on bridge widening, replacement and local traffic shifts.

Chris Hall said the Hampton segment will convert the current alignment from LaSalle to the HRBT into four lanes each direction, with two general-purpose lanes and two high-occupancy toll express lanes per direction. He added the project includes widening and rehabilitating the westbound Hampton River bridge and replacing the eastbound Hampton River bridge, as well as rehabilitating smaller overpasses at King Street, Settler's Landing and Rip Rap Road.

Hall told the council that the portion closest to Hampton is already under construction and that the scheduled completion date for this part of the project is mid-2026. He described maintenance-of-traffic plans that will initially shift both east- and westbound traffic onto the existing eastbound bridge for a period, then later transition traffic onto the widened westbound bridge while the eastbound bridge is demolished and rebuilt.

The agency said shoulders through the narrowed bridge reach will be limited, but dispersed safety pull-offs and other mitigations will be provided. Hall also said some work will be performed overnight to erect overhead signs and tolling infrastructure on the new trestles.

Local relevance: The configuration changes and overnight construction are intended to keep traffic moving while major bridge work proceeds, but the city and VDOT will need to communicate patterns and access points carefully to residents.