NEW KENT COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — New Kent County is looking for help from the state to expand the path to its future Buc-ee’s.
Last week, the county’s board of supervisors unanimously voted to show their support for a multi-million dollar funding request to help build a “diverging diamond” interchange at exit 211 on I-64.
New Kent Planning Director Amy Inman says that the county’s requesting about $42 million in Smart Scale funding, which is awarded to certain transportation projects based on expected improvements to safety, congestion reduction, economic development and more.
The total project is expected to cost about $70 million.
Inman said New Kent’s already been awarded $18.3 million from the Central Virginia Transportation Authority for the project, and is leveraging that to secure the additional funding. If the Smart Scale funding is approved, the county’s contribution would be $10 million.
The interchange project would start around 2029, with an estimated opening in 2032.
The future Buc-ee’s was supposed to break ground last year off exit 211, but was pushed back. Inman clarified that the Buc-ee’s construction is not dependent on the completion of the interchange, and it’s expected to open in 2027. It would be the commonwealth’s second location. Rockingham County’s is expected to open in 2025.