RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) -- The state is practicing how to evacuate the Eastern Shore and Hampton Roads in case of an emergency. That includes reversing all lanes of Interstate 64 east so that all traffic would head west towards Richmond.
Interstate 64 east between Exit 205 (Bottoms Bridge Rd.) near Richmond and Exit 231 (Croaker Rd.) near Williamsburg will be closed Sunday from 4:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. while crews test the I-64 Emergency Lane Reversal Plan.
The exercise will also close the on and off ramps at Exits 211 (106 Talleysville), 214 (rest area, 155 Providence Forge), 220 (33 West Point), 227 (30 Old Stage Rd.). The Virginia State Police, Virginia National Guard, and the Virginia departments of Emergency Management and Transportation will practice closing the traffic control gates.
If you have to travel between those hours, a detour will be set up in place rerouting traffic to Route 60 east toward Williamsburg and Hampton Roads.
This drill is practiced once a year during hurricane season. A reversal can be ordered by the governor in the event of a hurricane or other disaster. An actual lane reversal of I-64 would terminate at the I-295 interchange near Richmond (Exit 200).
