Drivers who use East Little Creek Road to reach I-64 east in Norfolk face a continuous ramp closure for about 20 hours starting Monday morning.
According to the Virginia Department of Transportation Hampton Roads advisory, contractor crews will fully close the eastbound Little Creek Road on-ramp to I-64 east from as early as 9:00 a.m. Monday, August 17, through about 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 18, for utility work on the Hampton Roads Express Lanes Norfolk Segment.
- What closes: East Little Creek Road on-ramp to I-64 east in Norfolk.
- When: About 9:00 a.m. Monday, August 17, through about 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 18.
- Duration: Continuous full ramp closure for roughly 20 hours.
- Why: Utility work for Hampton Roads Express Lanes Norfolk Segment construction.
- Detour: Signed route via Granby Street, East Admiral Taussig Boulevard, Tidewater Drive, and Thole Street.
What VDOT is closing and for how long
VDOT says the eastbound Little Creek Road on-ramp to I-64 east will be fully closed for a continuous window of about 20 hours.
The published window starts as early as 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 17, and ends about 5:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 18.
That timing covers a full business day and overnight period for Norfolk and Hampton Roads motorists who use the ramp as a regular I-64 east entry.
All work is weather and schedule dependent. VDOT says the schedule can change, so recheck 511 Virginia before you leave if the ramp is part of your Monday plan.
WAVY’s independent local report on East Little Creek Road lane work also flags related multi-day lane impacts on the same corridor, which is useful context if you already travel the road for other Norfolk destinations.
The signed detour VDOT wants drivers to follow
VDOT published a signed detour for both directions of East Little Creek Road traffic that needs I-64 east.
Motorists traveling westbound on East Little Creek Road will be directed to Granby Street, then East Admiral Taussig Boulevard, returning toward East Little Creek Road to Tidewater Drive and Thole Street to reach the I-64 east on-ramp.
Motorists traveling eastbound on East Little Creek Road will be directed to continue on East Little Creek Road to Tidewater Drive and Thole Street to access the I-64 east on-ramp.
That detour is longer than the closed ramp hop. Build extra time if you are connecting to airport traffic, shipyard shifts, or naval base schedules that already stack on I-64.
VDOT also reminds drivers to obey posted speeds, follow barrier guides, watch digital message signs, and drive distraction-free near work zones.
How this fits the Hampton Roads Express Lanes project
The ramp work is not a one-off utility dig with no larger project behind it.
VDOT ties the closure to the first phase of Hampton Roads Express Lanes Norfolk Segment construction that began in summer 2023.
That phase converts the existing inside shoulder along I-64 into a high-occupancy tolled, part-time shoulder Express Lane beside three general-purpose lanes between Patrol Road and Tidewater Drive for about two miles, and it includes bridge widening and rehabilitation on I-64.
The Norfolk Segment is designed to become part of a longer continuous high-occupancy toll Express Lanes network in Hampton Roads.
Travelers should expect more temporary ramp and lane changes as that corridor work continues, even after this Monday window ends.
Who should leave earlier Monday
Anyone who uses the East Little Creek Road ramp for I-64 east on Monday morning should leave earlier or switch to the signed Tidewater Drive and Thole Street access before 9:00 a.m.
Airport-bound drivers heading toward Norfolk International should not assume the closed ramp is their only option, but they should still recheck 511 if other I-64 work zones stack on the same day.
Naval Station Norfolk and surrounding base traffic already creates peak pressure on nearby arterials. A 20-hour ramp outage can push more cars onto Granby Street and Tidewater Drive during the morning and evening peaks.
Deep Arrival’s Virginia Beach things to do guide is the closest live planning page for leisure travelers who are combining Norfolk highway legs with coastal stops and need a realistic drive buffer.
For broader Virginia coast trip structure, keep hotel and attraction timing flexible on August 17 if your route depends on I-64 east entries in central Norfolk.
How to check conditions before you leave
VDOT points motorists to free 511 Virginia traffic tools and the 511-integrated Waze GPS app for live road conditions.
Those tools can show construction, incidents, cameras, and congestion when the published Monday window shifts because of weather or utility delays.
If you already use a different navigation app, still confirm the East Little Creek ramp status on 511 before you commit to a tight airport or base arrival time.
Message boards near the work zone are the final local signal. If digital signs open the ramp earlier than 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, trust the field posting over an older article window.
Rideshare and delivery drivers who loop this ramp all day should treat the full 20-hour outage as a fixed detour rather than hoping for mid-shift reopenings.
Commercial vehicles and buses that cannot easily reverse a missed turn should study the Tidewater Drive approach before Monday morning rather than improvising at the closed ramp gore.
| If you are | What to do |
|---|---|
| Using East Little Creek to enter I-64 east on Monday | Switch to the Tidewater Drive and Thole Street ramp path before 9:00 a.m. August 17. |
| Driving overnight Monday into early Tuesday | Expect the ramp to stay closed until about 5:00 a.m. August 18 unless VDOT posts an earlier reopen. |
| Coming from westbound East Little Creek Road | Follow the Granby Street and East Admiral Taussig Boulevard signed detour. |
| Coming from eastbound East Little Creek Road | Continue to Tidewater Drive and Thole Street for the alternate I-64 east access. |
| Tracking other corridor work | Recheck 511 Virginia and local lane advisories for additional East Little Creek impacts beyond the ramp. |
- Leave earlier Monday: The ramp can close as early as 9:00 a.m. August 17.
- Use the signed detour: Tidewater Drive and Thole Street are the published alternate ramp path.
- Plan through early Tuesday: Expect reopening around 5:00 a.m. August 18 if the schedule holds.
- Watch 511: Weather or utility delays can shift the window.
- Expect more HREL work: This is part of a multi-year Express Lanes corridor project.
If East Little Creek is your usual I-64 east entrance, treat Monday as a detour day and confirm conditions again on the free 511 Virginia tools before you merge into Norfolk traffic.
When does the East Little Creek Road ramp to I-64 east close?
VDOT says the continuous full closure starts as early as 9:00 a.m. Monday, August 17, 2026, and runs through about 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 18.
How long is the Norfolk ramp closed?
VDOT describes an approximately 20-hour continuous full closure of the eastbound Little Creek Road on-ramp to I-64 east.
What is the detour during the ramp closure?
VDOT directs traffic via a signed detour that uses Granby Street, East Admiral Taussig Boulevard, Tidewater Drive, and Thole Street to reach an I-64 east on-ramp.
Why is VDOT closing the ramp?
The agency says utility work for Hampton Roads Express Lanes Norfolk Segment construction requires the continuous ramp outage.
Can the schedule change?
Yes. VDOT says the work is weather and schedule dependent and that motorists should recheck 511 Virginia for the latest conditions.
