WASHINGTON — Late-night drivers on Interstate 66 will want to prepare for total stoppages of traffic in a long-term work zone between Route 29 in Gainesville and Route 15 in Haymarket.

The Virginia Department of Transportation says I-66 will be reduced to a single lane during overnight hours beginning on Monday, July 13. All westbound traffic will be stopped for up to 20 minutes at a time, between midnight and 4 a.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Eastbound traffic will be halted after midnight on Thursday and Friday mornings.

The roadwork is a part of the I-66 widening project between mile 40 and mile 43 in Prince William County. West of Gainesville, I-66 drops from an eight-lane highway to a four-lane highway. The project will widen 4.8 miles of the interstate through Haymarket.

Michelle Holland with VDOT says the scheduled stoppages are needed so that crews can safely set steel beams in place for the new Old Carolina bridge above I-66. The project also requires the Catharpin Road overpass be rebuilt.

The $73.5 million widening project is expected to be completed in August 2016.