Construction Activities

Construction of the new 66 Express Lanes outside the Beltway is now complete. The final section of new lanes opened on Tuesday, Nov. 22, providing a total of 22.5 miles of express lanes on Interstate 66 from I-495 (the Capital Beltway) to Route 29 in Gainesville. Although the new 66 Express Lanes are now open, some construction activities remain on and off the highway.

Current construction activities include:

• Installation of overhead gantries and signs
• Earthwork and drainage along I-66 East and West
• Constructing noise walls along I-66 East and West
• Corridor-wide roadway maintenance as needed

The Project Sections page of the website provides a closer look at project features and construction activities.

See construction progress videos and an animated project fly-thru on the project videos page.

What Neighbors Can Expect

• Construction activities will occur during day and nighttime hours as needed to provide safe working conditions for crews and keep the project on track while balancing construction impacts on project neighbors and motorists. 
• Lighting of the construction work area will be directed to minimize light pollution for nearby residents.
• Noise to expect at night includes back-up alarms on equipment and trucks, which are necessary to protect worker safety.
• Noisy construction activities such as bridge demolition and pile driving will be avoided at night, when possible.  Some work, such as demolition of bridges over I-66, requires closure of I-66 travel lanes and must occur during overnight hours. 
• The project team coordinates with local governments to balance the needs of completing the project with local noise ordinances. 
• In Fairfax County, night work is coordinated with the County.
• In Prince William County, the project is exempt from the Prince William County Noise Ordinance, but the project team is committed to communicating with adjacent properties about planned nighttime work.
• Project emails and website will be used to communicate major traffic impacts or nighttime work. FAM Construction will reach out directly to communities and residents of adjacent properties as project activities begin and progress near them.

What Drivers Can Expect

• To make room for construction and ensure the safety of drivers and workers, lane closures and temporary traffic shifts are happening throughout the I-66 corridor.
• Planned closures occur during non-rush hour periods to reduce impact on motorists.
• Construction activities above I-66 such as work on bridge piers, decks, and other overhead structures that require lane closures and intermittent traffic stoppages to ensure safety will generally be scheduled for the overnight hours when traffic volumes are lighter.
• Crews are monitoring, refreshing, and repairing pavement markings and other roadway conditions across the project corridor. Drivers are urged to pay attention and slow down through the work zone.
• Additional Virginia State Police troopers and VDOT Safety Service Patrols are assigned to the I-66 corridor to keep traffic moving through the work zone by responding to incidents and swiftly removing them from the roadway.
• Incentive programs are available to encourage travel by commuter bus, carpool, and vanpool in the new 66 Express Lanes. 

Staying Informed

Subscribe to Transform 66 Project email updates for the latest information on lane closures and traffic impacts, as well as to learn about construction progress and other project developments. Sign up here.

Have questions or feedback about construction activity near you? Email FAM Construction at outreach@fam66.us or call 703-662-3892. Find the full list of project contacts here.

Resources