VIRGINIA — Central Virginia residents may have to wait several more years before visiting the planned Buc-ee’s travel center in New Kent County.
County Administrator Rodney Hathaway told the New Kent County Planning Commission during a Dec. 15 meeting that the 75,000-square-foot Buc-ee’s supercenter is not expected to open until at least 2029. Hathaway said the delay is tied to the company’s plan to coordinate its opening with a major road construction project adjacent to the site.
The Buc-ee’s location is planned for the Emmaus Church Road exit, also known as Exit 211, along Interstate 64. The site is next to a Virginia Department of Transportation project that will reconstruct the I-64 interchange. According to VDOT, the project is intended to improve safety, increase capacity, enhance traffic flow, and improve pedestrian access in the area.
Earlier this year, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced a $20 million investment to fund the interchange improvement project. Hathaway said approximately $2.5 million in expenditures are anticipated for the next fiscal year. The project’s completion is currently scheduled for September 2029, and Buc-ee’s is attempting to align its opening with that timeline. However, Hathaway noted that Buc-ee’s has indicated its opening could occur even later than fall 2029.
The Buc-ee’s development is part of broader growth along the I-64 corridor. Additional projects planned for the area include AutoZone and Target distribution centers. According to the governor’s office, development along the corridor is expected to generate approximately $2.25 billion in investment and more than 2,000 jobs for New Kent County and the Commonwealth.
The county announced the Buc-ee’s project in early 2023. Plans for the travel center include 120 fueling positions, parking for more than 650 vehicles, multiple electric vehicle charging stations, and accommodations for buses and recreational vehicles.
