Improvements are currently being made to the I-295/I-64 interchange in western Henrico County in Virginia. The project includes the widening of Pouncey Tract Road and the construction of a new flyover ramp from eastbound I-64 to southbound I-295.

The contract includes the addition of a lane on the outside of I-64 in both directions between Route 288 and Route 250, and the current one-lane ramp from northbound I-295 to westbound I-64 will be increased to two lanes. A new two-lane flyover ramp also will be added to carry eastbound I-64 traffic to southbound I-295. The ramp will be 1,765 ft. (538 m) long, and will rise 35 ft. (10.7 m) above I-64. Two sound walls also will be constructed.

Additionally, the project involves the replacement of the existing two-lane bridge over I-64 with a new, four-lane bridge. It will be 338 ft. (103 m) long, and will include a raised median, sidewalks and aluminum railing on each side.

The flyover bridge and additional lanes were planned to help improve the flow of traffic between I-295 and Route 288.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) awarded the $67 million contract to English Construction Company Inc. Construction began in April 2006, and is expected to be complete by the spring of 2009. John Moore is the site superintendent of English Construction Company Inc. and Lee Yowell is the VDOT project manager.

In November 2006, the project was running approximately 18 days behind schedule.

“There are major traffic shifts necessary to access construction in high traffic areas,” said Dawn Eischen, public relations manager of the Richmond District of VDOT. “Proper phasing of construction presents problems if any portion of a phase falls behind schedule.”

The project will involve 150,414 cu. yds. (115,000 cu m) of regular excavation, 176,573 cu. yds. (135,000 cu m) of borrow excavation, 9,300 sq. mi. (14,967 sq km) of MSE wall, more than 110,231 tons (100,000 t) of asphalt, and 16,146 sq. yds. (13,500 sq m) of soundwall.

English Construction has 40 people assigned to the job, and there are an additional 20 to 40 subcontractors. There also are 12 people on the project management/inspection staff.

The equipment list includes two Link-Belt 100-ton (90.8 t) cranes, one 100-ton P & H Crane, one Grove 730 RT crane, and Caterpillar 320 and 330 excavators.

Major subcontractors include Lee-Hy Paving, Glen Allen, Va., asphalt; G.L. Howard, Glen Allen, water and sewer; Bryant Contracting, Toano, Va., sound wall; Tavares Concrete, Lorton, Va., concrete barrier walls; Venture Electric, Richmond, Va., signs and electrical; Roche Brothers, Ijamsville, Md., MSE Walls; RSG Landscaping, Concord, Va., seeding, plantings, ground covering; and Landford Brothers, Roanoke, Va., bridge decks. CEG

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