Whoa! Horses halt traffic at Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel

Posted to: Hampton News Transportation and Traffic

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The runaway horses were brought to a garage at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. (Photos courtesy of VDOT)

By Tom Holden
The Virginian-Pilot
© February 26, 2008

Horsepower cruising through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel is nothing new.

But when three horses wandered near the eastbound tunnel entrance early Tuesday, traffic ground to a halt along the eastbound lanes of Interstate 64.

"They were not in the tunnel, but they were on the causeway walking to the north island," said Harry Kenyon, spokesman for the Virginia Department of Transportation.

"They were definitely on their way."

Motorists saw the animals at about 5:45 a.m. and began to slow down or stop. Tunnel officials also saw the animals on their monitors and ordered traffic to stop out of concern that they might get onto the tunnel ramp.

Virginia State Police shut down eastbound traffic and then led the animals to a VDOT building on the north island - the one closest to Hampton - for safekeeping. The animals were reportedly well-mannered and calm.

The event created a traffic backup to Mercury Boulevard in Hampton, about five miles. The lanes were reopened around 6:20.

The animals, which are kept on property next to the interstate, are owned by Hampton University and used for equestrian classes.

The university said in a statement that it did not know how the horses escaped but was "implementing additional measures" to prevent animals from getting out again.

Tom Holden, (757) 446-2331, tom.holden@pilotonline.com

Another one...

Submitted by mikedlong on Wed, 02/27/2008 at 10:00 am.

Hampton Regional Taxing Authority opens up HRBT Tunnel and Glue Factory...

my contribution

Submitted by Karma4u on Wed, 02/27/2008 at 12:42 am.

Horses at play cause traffic delay

Confused Caballos Could Cause Commuter Crashes

Submitted by contractorva on Wed, 02/27/2008 at 12:40 am.

If you no habla espanol...caballo=horse. or Portuguese "Cavallo" any way...I like Jane's Mr Ed one the best.. "off course, off course" lol

Kristin's Headline

Submitted by on my soapbox on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 8:25 pm.

How about Horse Jam for a headline ?

H.R.B.T. is an acronym for...

Submitted by E.G. on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 7:58 pm.

H.orses R.eally B.lock T.raffic BUT H.ay R.esists B.eing T.rampled (Too bad we couldn't say the same for the backed up cars today) Bet the horses got a good laugh out of it. Can't ya just imagine what they were thinking? [horse 1] "Hey fellas, take a look at those thingamajigs that are supposed to have power named after us, but Whoa, they don't move!" [horse 2] "No kidding, I was just thinking the same thing. Why don't we slow down some more to see if the drivers are paying attention?" [horse 3] "Let's not stand here very long, VDOT might make us start pulling salt trucks or something."

Headline

Submitted by KennyW on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 7:11 pm.

Horses stall traffic, police corral suspects at HRBT.

Headline: A horse is a horse, off course, off course

Submitted by janep39630 on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 6:55 pm.

I'm still thinking ...

Hampton Roads New Traffic Controllers

Submitted by thomasjefferson on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 6:39 pm.

Hampton Roads has decided to try out a new way to control traffic. These new "officers" will surely get drivers attention and ensure that traffic laws are being followed.

Three nightmares on I-64 in early dawn cause nagging backup

Submitted by fairlane_68 on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 5:04 pm.

That's the best I could do...I kinda lost what I wanted to say...sorry!

Now open, Hampton Race and Betting Track...

Submitted by mikedlong on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 4:02 pm.

Unfortunately all Hell broke loose when Equines Jockeyed to be the first to cross the new track.

Watch out

Submitted by aalto on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 2:19 pm.

Don't let the HRTA get wind of this, I am sure they will whine and complain they need to tax horse feed to raid transportation funds for horses using the interstate system.

horses sighted by eagle-eyed commuters

Submitted by richardmay2 on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 1:49 pm.

The story reads that "alert motorists" reported horses walking down the Interstate. Lord, please save us from those muddled motorists that weren't alert enough to see horses on the highway!!

How about this one?

Submitted by APZ1_BRACaholic on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 12:21 pm.

Horsing Around Causes Tunnel Backup

Hampton Horses protest new taxes, Stop traffic at HRBT.

Submitted by on my soapbox on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 12:16 pm.

Happening headlines for you.

However

Submitted by Just_my_opinion on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 10:59 am.

Wild horses couldn't keep me away from work this morning!

Hmmm

Submitted by Ira Tateu on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 10:46 am.

I wonder what the fine would be if it had been one of our dogs? How the heck do you allow horses to escape and onto the interstate?

ESCAPED EQUINES EXASERBATE EXPRESSWAY

Submitted by Orion on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 10:40 am.

Gas Prices force alternative ride for commuters

Submitted by Price on Tue, 02/26/2008 at 10:38 am.

IT has come to this, Exxon/Mobile reprots record profits for the third straight year. Commuters are feeling the pinch at the pumps. It is cheaper to feed and water the horse than filling up your F-150 every other day.