The Virginian-Pilot
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Virginia Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer said Wednesday that the state will study how additional tubes at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel could reduce congestion.
The study will examine the engineering feasibility of six alternatives, including two to four new tubes, and expanding the approach bridges in Norfolk and Hampton.
In a letter to Dels. Phillip Hamilton and Glenn Oder, both Newport News Republicans, Homer said the study would provide “sketch-level cost estimates.”
The study will build upon extensive work already done on traffic modeling in the region and rely on the Virginia Department of Transportation and outside consultants, he said.
Homer did not say how much the study would cost, but the initial findings are expected by this fall.
The research is not intended to change the region’s current long-range plans for transportation improvements, which include building a third crossing. Homer said the study is to see how adding capacity to the bridge tunnel could improve overall regional mobility.
Hamilton and Oder have been pushing state and regional transportation planners to explain why more effort has not been put into improving the bridge-tunnel, which suffers from overuse.
Regional planners have argued that plans are in the works to reduce congestion at the tunnel – not by adding capacity but by shifting motorists’ travel patterns to other routes.
Planners have said they will achieve this with the proposed third crossing, which will double capacity at the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel and then extend Interstate 564 past the Norfolk Naval Station, under the Elizabeth River, connecting to the south island at I-664.
This will siphon off about 17 percent of Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel’s volume, according to environmental studies, and provide travel options for users of I-64 who now avoid the Monitor tube because it does not directly serve their needs.
Those same studies have found that while adding more lanes to the HRBT could reduce volumes in the existing tube by 40 percent, they do nothing for other critical regional transportation needs, such as serving the ports, which are playing an increasingly important role to Virginia’s economy.
“The one thing I wish is that this process be put on the fast track,” Hamilton said. “We have studied it for years and years. What we need is action.”
Hamilton also said he wants VDOT to explore leasing the tube to a private company that would operate it as a toll facility, a return to its original operational plan when the first tunnel opened in 1957 and tolls were $1.25.
Leasing the tunnel under what’s known as a concession agreement would first require support from the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which sets regional transportation policy, and then the Federal Highway Administration.
Tom Holden, (757) 446-2331, tom.holden@pilotonline.com
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Regional Loop
While in a brain-storming session as a manager with VDOT more than 15 years ago, an idea emerged that would relieve much of the confusion tourists have using the Interstate system in Hampton Roads, while relieving some of the traffic flow on the HRBT. It was, simply enough, that I-64 would terminate in the Hampton Coliseum area at its junction with I-664. The remainder of I-64 would become I-664, thus forming an I-664 inter and outer loop around the Region. Motorist unfamiliar with an area tend to follow a given route, in this case I-64 through the HRBT, and this simple change would alleviate much of this. Alas, which entity blocked tha idea, why the City of Norfolk, which insisted on having I-64 as the entry route into the City.
Regarding the need to widen the HRBT crossing of Hampton Roads, I will regress to the 1970s and the first time I visited the Willoughby area while I-64 was under construction. I was shocked even then that it was going to be a four-lane facility and not a six or even eight lane roadway. The need to widen the tunnel was evident then and remains so today.
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Joking Right?
They want to know why no effort was being done to improve the HRBT? Why not ask the Mainly Politicial Organization (MPO) why they concentrate on developer incentive projects and ignore real transportation issues? Leader fraim constantly says not to HRBT improvements. Why? Is it because the HRBT will not provide any redevelopment options? Is it because his little downtown choo-choo might lose funding? Is it because a better HRBT might make people able to live on the peninsula but work on the southside? Is it because the little voices in his pocket tell him what to say? One might never know.
HRBT
Finally a legislator, Phil Hamilton actually wants to build roads. It’s unfortunate that other area legislators want to talk and keep their heads in the sand. Actions speak louder than cheap talk. Way to go Mr. Hamilton.
While you're at it VDOT...
Can you possible spare an hour to drive 264 from Downtown Norfolk to the Oceanfront (and back) to see just how bad that road is to drive on. From what I understand the road was built 30+ years ago and has NEVER been repaved. There is one or two stretches that are nice paved, that's it.
I invite ANYONE in VDOT management to take ride with me down this interstate in my Nissan Sentra and NOT feel like they have just driven down the worst roads in the country. Potholes, speed bumps, cracks, you name it, 264 has it.
It amazes me how VDOT can find the money to repave I-495,I395 and Rt 66 in Northern Virginia every other year, but we get a piece of crap road that hasnt been repaved in over 30 years.
VDOT
VDOT takes another look because citizens and politicians spoke of the bridge. VDOT hasn't had a fresh idea since the depression. I feel all in VDOT at the supervisory level and above should be fired and start over...can we do any worse?
Now We're Cooking With Gas!
It's about time VDOT takes charge of vigourously maintaining ALL of Virginia's roads that are in their jurisdiction with taxes that more than cover these costs while establishing new roads rather than add another authority that eats into the "tax-class". Get out of the truck. Grab a shovel. Time to get to work. Our jails and prisons are loaded with ready, willing, and able-bodied laborers to "comp" their expense. Lose the slow moving, overpriced contractors and hire 20 year state employees who are guaranteed lots of hard work and income in return.