Henrico begins turnpike widening and first phase of eastern water transmission line

Henrico County, Virginia, broke ground on October 28, 2026, on Richmond-Henrico Turnpike improvements and the first section of the Eastern Henrico Transmission Line. The county’s departments of Public Works and Public Utilities are coordinating construction to reduce disruption to residents.

The road project expands the corridor between East Laburnum Avenue and Hummingbird Road from two lanes to four. Plans include a raised median, a west-side sidewalk, an east-side lighted shared-use path and drainage improvements. The county’s road project page lists an estimated cost of $29.75 million; the estimate applies to the road improvements, not the full water transmission line.

The broader water project calls for approximately 13 miles of 42-inch main. The transmission line is intended to enable the county’s treatment facility to supply central and eastern Henrico when needed, improving resilience to disruptions affecting Richmond’s water system. The January 2025 outage accelerated the county’s response.

Project schedule and procurement

The county expects to complete pipeline design in 2027. The road improvements and initial water-main segment of approximately one mile are scheduled for completion in 2028. Construction of the remaining pipeline sections is anticipated to begin that year, with the full line expected to enter service by 2031.

The initial road and utility works are entering construction, while subsequent pipeline phases remain in design. The cited announcements do not identify an open procurement for the remaining sections.

Sources: Henrico County, October 28, 2026; county road project page; 12 On Your Side, October 28, 2026.