New Kent requests $44M from state to expand exit for future Buc-ee’s

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 said at the July 8 board meeting that the county’s requesting $44 million in Smart Scale funding , which is awarded to certain transportation projects based on expected improvements to safety, congestion reduction, economic development and more.

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.

The future Buc-ee’s was supposed to break ground last year off exit 211, but developers and county officials wanted to make sure the opening aligned with the completion of the interchange and the ongoing I-64 widening project .

The Buc-ee’s is expected to be open in 2027 and would be the commonwealth’s second location, Rockingham County’s is expected to open in 2025.

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