Traffic: Steel Bridge, Jamestown ferry reopen

Chesapeake officials have reopened Dominion Boulevard and the Steel Bridge, after it was closed earlier today due to tidal water on the roadway, a spokeswoman said early Saturday.

The Great Bridge Bridge in Chesapeake also is open again, after closing last night because of standing water.

The Midtown Tunnel and James River Bridge reopened Friday night after being closed Thursday in anticipation of the nor'easter.

Ferry service has resumed at the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry on Route 31, VDOT officials said this morning. High tides had caused service to be suspended over the past couple of days. 

Ramps from eastbound Interstate 264 onto Waterside and Tidewater drives in Norfolk were closed because of flooding late Friday afternoon.

The interstates are accessible, although some ramps remain closed because of high water on city streets. Drivers who venture out should be alert for fallen trees, limbs, power lines and other debris, VDOT officials said. Many traffic signals remained out.

They continued their plea for motorists to stay off the roads if possible.

On Interstate 264 near Ballentine Boulevard, a huge pothole that formed during the storm has created a hazard for drivers. VDOT spokeswoman Nora Jump-Scott said a work order has been submitted and it should be repaired today because of its size - or if not, within 48 hours.

“It’s a hazard,” she said. “We caution after these storms, when there’s flooding on the roadways and the wind is blowing, you have to be cautious of roadway hazards, including potholes.”

A contractor was assessing the damage this afternoon to see if a temporary repair could be made until the weather improves enough for a permanent fix, Jump-Scott said.

The HOV lanes continue to send drivers east this afternoon after a power outage kept crews from switching the direction of the lanes this morning. Some electronic message signs, including those on Interstate 264 west, also are without power, Jump-Scott said.

Hampton Roads District Administrator Dennis Heuer said Thursday that the region’s other major bridges and tunnels are expected to remain open unless weather conditions worsen. “If water levels rise, we will need to re-evaluate closing the tunnels,” he said.

The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, Interstate 64 High-Rise Bridge and the Coleman Bridge are open. The Downtown Tunnel also is open.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel officials continued to have a Level 4 restriction in place Friday morning, allowing only cars and pickups without exterior cargo, minivans, and sport utility vehicles to cross, according to a recorded message.

While the interstates remain in good condition, many ramps were closed but later opened. As of 4:30 p.m., the closed ramps were:

-- EB 264 to Tidewater Drive

-- EB 264 to Waterside Drive

-- 64 EB and 64 WB to 15th View Street

-- 664 SB to Terminal Avenue

A fallen tree complicated things earlier Friday for drivers who were heading south on Northampton Boulevard and found the two right lanes closed at the interchange wtih Interstate 64.

The Chincoteague Causeway in Accomack County closed at 3:30 p.m. Friday because of flooding on the road. It will reopen when water subsides.

Meanwhile, state police have been working accidents in Hampton Roads. Troopers had been called to 141 crashes, 87 of which were on the interstates, in the 24-hour period from midafternoon Wednesday to midafternoon Thursday.

“If you don’t have to be out on the road, please don’t,” said Deborah Cox, state police spokeswoman. She urged motorists to slow down and maintain ample distance between vehicles. Puddles that tend to form on the sides of the roads can also lead to hydroplaning, she said.

Statewide, there were lane or road closures Thursday on five interstates – primarily on ramps – 24 primary roads and 158 secondary roads, said Jeff Caldwell, a VDOT spokesman. Most were in the Hampton Roads region, he added.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent representatives to the area “in case the situation should result in widespread damage,” said Laura Southard, spokeswoman for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Motorists are reminded to use the following tools for travel-related information: www.va511.com, www.virginiadot.org, 610AM on the radio, or (757) 361-3016. 

Pilot writers Kathy Adams and Patrick Wilson contributed to this report.