HRBT lane closure scheduled again tonight

Repair crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation will close one westbound lane in the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel tonight.

The closure, scheduled from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., is related to the pump and water main malfunctions that shut down both westbound lanes on July 2 following a severe electrical storm. A VDOT announcement cautioned motorists to anticipate congestion and to seek alternate routes during the overnight shut-down.

Last week’s day of gridlock on I-64 West stretched from the morning through evening rush hours. Although both westbound lanes were reopened by 7:30 p.m. last Wednesday, traffic havoc continued through much of the holiday weekend because of intermittent shutdowns of one westbound lane by VDOT crews working to repair a water main break that resulted from the malfunction in the pump system.

VDOT officials will hold a public briefing on the situation at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission in Chesapeake.

For traffic information, motorists can visit www.511va.com, listen to Highway Advisory Radio (HAR 610 AM) or call the Traffic Information Line at 757-361-3016.