The Virginian-Pilot
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NORFOLK
A public hearing Wednesday night on six proposals to expand the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel was deemed "the beginning of dialogue" on the issue by Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce R. Homer.
But on this night, the dialogue was clearly one-sided.
Most of the nearly 200 people who came to Granby High School, including dozens of elected officials from throughout Hampton Roads, said they want no part of an expansion.
Norfolk officials say all six proposals, four that would add tunnels and two that would add bridges, would destroy too many homes and bring too much noise and pollution to Willoughby and Ocean View.
"We have grave concerns about all of these alternatives," Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim said, drawing a roar of applause.
Virginia Beach Vice Mayor Louis Jones, who sat with Fraim, said his City Council has yet to take a stand on the expansion. But he said he will recommend it vote no. "I have seen nothing here to entice me to change our position on the (other) major projects that the region has approved unanimously," Jones said.
Jones and Fraim serve on the Metropolitan Planning Organization, which does planning for regional transportation and has not taken a stan ce on bridge-tunnel expansion.
State Sen. John C. Miller, D-Newport News, pleaded with the audience to keep an open mind. "I don't think we can address traffic congestion problems in Hampton Roads without addressing problems at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel," he said.
Yet Fraim said congestion would be relieved by the largest major project endorsed by the planning organization - the third crossing, which would carry traffic from Norfolk westward to the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.
Homer said the group must eventually decide whether an expanded Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel is something the region should seriously pursue.
The bad news, Homer said, is that there is no funding for any of the projects. A referendum measure in 2002 to raise funds for transportation failed, and a funding package passed by the General Assembly in 2007 was deemed unconstitutional by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Homer said projects in Hampton Roads are more expensive than in other areas because of the many waterways.
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Progress is always painful
When the interstates were originally built, there were complaints of the same kinds about businesses and homes being wiped out or moved to make way for the highways. Now, the area would be in complete traffic chaos without them. So many decades later we are seeing the same kinds of complaints, this time about the disruption a third crossing would create. In this case, everyone in all of Hampton Roads suffers because of the traffic tie-ups getting between the Southside and the Peninsula. Land gets condemned for a new airport or runway - and yet all benefit from the added commerce such improvements make.
Progress is always painful, but for the region to function properly, it is necessary and needed.
Of course they are going to
Of course they are going to oppose it. If they widen the HRBT, that puts their port gravy train driveway in jeopardy.
typical short sighted
OH yea lets build a bridge so 664 gets overwhelmed too. Typical for this area. We need to start now to design a true 3rd crossing . Not one that ties to something already in place. Hey Fraim ... lets call it the Jordan Bridge. Then you might support it.
It's easier to expect others to sacrifice isn't it?
There's something comical that we, at large, don't support allowing the state or local governments the right to commandeer property for the "betterment of the city/state", yet a majority of the posters believe it's only FAIR that the people who live in Willoughby and that end of Ocean View have their homes destroyed and their apartments made unliveable along with their neighborhood. Anyone along VB Blvd and Newtown Road mind if Norfolk and VB come along and destroy their homes and neighborhood to alleviate congestion at the VB/Norfolk line? Or find a way to resolve the traffic along 264 in the evenings by claiming right of way and destroying your houses if they're near the interstate? Ask the people that lived on Witchduck Road who had the city "make offers" to buy their houses at what the city "felt" was an appropriate offer if they felt losing their house was for the better good. Here's a better idea. How about making all these wahoos that drive on the interstates locally learn to DRIVE, which is the cause of 99% of our traffic problems. "Let's do 30 MPH in the tunnel because it's scary!" "I'm in a hurry, so I'm going to do 85 and see how many people will jump out of my way be
Let the drivers design the roads
I like the idea of the "7th alternative". It brings to mind something that I've been thinking about. Let the citizens and drivers design the best alternative. There is no need to hire expensive planning engineers. We can always come up with a better plan. After all, it's us that drive these roads every day, and live in the neighborhoods that would be affected.
The 7th alternative doesn't need to interfere with the Navy too much. Much of it can be lowered, kinda like a tunnel, under the base. It would be more expensive that way, but also more secure.
I was around, and a daily HRBT commuter, when they built the second tunnel. At that time I couldn't believe they were so short-sited that they didn't build it with 4 lanes. That's typical of this area - only think about and plan for the present. The problem isn't really with the politicians, it's with the citizens that would have screamed too loudly if the policitians spent the extra money back then to build a better tunnel.
7th Alternative
I like that idea too, but I can see the Navy shutting it down because of security reasons. It would cut right into the helicopter landing areas too from the look of it.
What about this idea . . .
Where is the majority of the truck traffic going between the Southside and the Peninsula? The ports. If the 3rd crossing is built tying in NIT with the Monitor-Merrimac, then all truck traffic could be directed through the Monitor-Merrimac. Since the M&M has higher clearance anyway, there would be a lesser chance of trucks getting stuck in the tunnel. With all truck traffic having to take the M&M, it should clear up some of the traffic through the HRBT. Trucks going between the Maresk and Portsmouth terminals could also be directed to take that route, removing them from the Mid-town tunnel and Hampton Blvd. That would reduce the traffic strain on that route. With the route being more direct for the ports, maybe they could be approached to fund part of it.
wow!
I really liked the idea at "7th-alternative.notlong.com." That would be so awesome for our area. Too bad we have brainless deadbeats in charge of these things.
7th Alternative
That actually looks pretty good. But since its not the 3rd crossing plan,Norfolk will find a reason to oppose it.
Bad drivers cause most of the delays.
HRBT expansion will not stop congestion between Norfolk and Richmond Expand the western corridors first.