NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Jessie Simon Jr., the pastor of The Word Works Worship Center in Newport News, has big plans for early learning on Denbigh Boulevard.
“[The] Word Works Worship Center, we want to impact the next 40 years of this generation’s life,” he said. “Over the last couple of months, we’ve been working on a renovation project to establish The Word Works Academy.”
Simon said the school will serve children from 6 months to pre-K. However, he is concerned about how those upcoming plans will mesh with a possible project by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in the works.
VDOT, the city of Newport News and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) want to add another access point to Interstate 64 in Newport News between Fort Eustis Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue to relieve pressure from those interchanges. So, they’re proposing another interchange at I-64 and Denbigh Boulevard.
“Traffic congestion has continued to grow as well as development in the City of Newport News both along and near I-64,” said Tim Kelley with VDOT’s Hampton Roads District.
“People do, like I said, come into our parking lot, they turn their vehicles around. People sometimes get stuck at this light over here,” Simon said.
The first phase of this project includes the construction of the I-64 westbound access ramp and improvements to Denbigh Boulevard near Warwick Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue. Kelley said phase two will focus on building eastbound access ramps and widening the Denbigh Boulevard Bridge over I-64.
“This interchange will help provide connectivity specifically to the Denbigh Boulevard area,” Kelley said. “Providing people more access to to those areas in there so that they're not just having to access it through Jefferson Avenue and Fort Eustis. You're giving them another alternative in there that they can better access it instead of having to take other streets within the city to access around which is putting congestion on those points."
Simon is more concerned about an increase in traffic during construction.
“When we get the academy going, which is really really soon, I’m hoping that it doesn’t impact parents picking up their children, parents dropping their children off," Simon said.
Kelley said VDOT is already developing plans for traffic mitigation.
The first phase of this project could begin as early as late 2025, according to Kelley. Construction on phase two could start in mid-2030. He said phase one is estimated to cost around $73 million and phase two is estimated at $188 million.
Until then, VDOT wants to hear from you in an online survey. You can share your thoughts on VDOT's website until February. Leaders plan to hold a public input meeting this summer.