Virginia State Route 164

Virginia State Route 164 is an east–west limited-access highway located entirely within the independent Suffolk on the Virginia Peninsula. The route functions as a bypass and connector between Interstate 264 (Virginia), US 13, US 58 and local arterial roads, serving industrial areas, the James River, and access to the Hampton Roads transportation network. Originally constructed in the late 20th century, the corridor supports freight traffic to regional ports and provides commuter relief for I‑64 corridors.

Route description

SR 164 begins at an interchange with Interstate 264 (Virginia) near the Nansemond River crossing, immediately connecting to ramps that serve Interstate 664, I‑64, and the Berkley Bridge. The highway proceeds southeast as a four-lane divided freeway adjacent to industrial parcels and rail corridors operated by Norfolk Southern Railway and proximate to Port of Virginia facilities, intersecting with collectors that link to US 13 and the Military Highway complex. Along its alignment SR 164 crosses tributaries that feed the James River and runs near the Nansemond National Wildlife Refuge and the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge to the south; interchanges provide access to commercial nodes including the Bridge Road retail corridor and the Sentara Obici Hospital medical campus. The eastern terminus meets US 58 with movements that feed toward Daily’s Place and the Hampton Roads Transit network, while maintaining direct connections to regional routes such as SR 10 and SR 32 for longer-distance traffic.

History

Planning for SR 164 was part of mid-20th-century transportation initiatives tied to the growth of Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization corridors and the expansion of the Port of Virginia during the post‑World War II era. Early proposals coordinated with the Virginia Department of Transportation and federal programs influenced by the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 to establish truck-friendly bypasses around urban cores like Norfolk and Portsmouth. Construction phases in the 1960s and 1970s involved contracts awarded to regional builders experienced from projects such as the Veterans Bridge (Norfolk) and improvements to Interstate 264 (Virginia). Subsequent upgrades addressed capacity and safety after studies by the Metropolitan Planning Organization and environmental reviews prompted by the National Environmental Policy Act; these led to interchange reconstructions similar to those on I‑664 and enhancements paralleling work on US 460 and US 17. In the 21st century, SR 164 has been included in resiliency planning related to Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise projections and adaptation efforts funded by the Virginia Port Authority and regional grant programs.

Major intersections

The route's principal connections reflect its role as a freight and commuter artery: - Interchange with Interstate 264 (Virginia) providing access to Norfolk and Virginia Beach. - Ramps to US 13 and US 58 facilitating movements toward North Carolina, Chesapeake, and the Outer Banks access corridors. - Connections to SR 337 and SR 10 that feed local arterial networks serving the Downtown Suffolk Historic District and industrial parks adjacent to Norfolk Naval Shipyard-linked supply chains. - Interchange interfaces that align with commuter and transit services including Hampton Roads Transit bus routes and freight intermodal links to Norfolk International Terminal and inland distribution centers near Isle of Wight County.

Future developments

Planned and proposed projects affecting SR 164 are tied to regional mobility and port expansion initiatives led by entities such as the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Virginia Port Authority. Potential upgrades include interchange modernization modeled after improvements on I‑64 and capacity enhancements similar to those on US 58 and I‑664 to support projected freight volumes from the Port of Virginia and planned industrial developments near Suffolk Executive Airport. Resilience measures to counteract Hampton Roads sea level rise involve elevation of low-lying ramps and installation of drainage infrastructure consistent with projects undertaken in Norfolk and Chesapeake. Coordination with commuter rail and transit initiatives including proposals linked to Virginia Passenger Rail Authority and regional bus rapid transit planning may introduce multimodal access improvements and park-and-ride facilities.

Exit list

The exit numbering and configuration on SR 164 reflect its limited-access design and connections to major corridors: - West end: interchange with Interstate 264 (Virginia), ramps to I‑64/I‑664. - Intermediate exits: local access to US 13, SR 337, Bridge Road, and industrial parks serving Norfolk Southern Railway intermodal yards. - East end: junction with US 58 providing eastbound access to Chesapeake and westbound movements toward South Hill.

Category:State highways in Virginia