Workers could lose jobs at Elizabeth River tunnels

Downtown Tunnel electronic technician Mark McMullen expects changes. (joy lewis | the virginian-pilot)

By Tom Holden
The Virginian-Pilot

Workers at the Elizabeth River tunnels could lose their jobs at the Virginia Department of Transportation under a proposal that may turn tunnel operations over to a private contractor.

Next month, VDOT will seek bids for detailed plans to build a new Midtown Tunnel parallel to the existing one and to extend the Martin Luther King Freeway to Interstate 264.

As part of those plans, future tunnel operations at the new and existing Midtown and Downtown tunnels probably would fall to a private company that may hire its own people to tow disabled cars, maintain electrical components and other duties that now fall to state workers.

About 117 people would be affected.

During private meetings this week, VDOT’s tunnel workers were told the department would offer them jobs where possible and that classes will be available in resume writing and other job-hunting skills.

“Applying for a new job would make me nervous,” said Katherine Wallace , who was watching for over-height trucks at the Downtown Tunnel. “You don’t know what job skills the new owner would want you to bring.”

At age 59, Wallace said, she has worked for VDOT for nearly 30 years – long enough to qualify for retirement, but she’s still too young to retire fully.

“But I have to admit, it’s going to be nice to have a new tunnel,” she said.

Not knowing what might happen also troubles Mark McMullen.

A 63-year-old electrical technician, McMullen said he has heard VDOT talk about privatizing the tunnels before – back in 2005 when it publicly weighed an idea to turn maintenance over.

VDOT decided against that because there was no financial benefit to the public, but this time around, with the possibility of a new tunnel and the prospect of tolls coming to pay the debt, McMullen thinks tunnel workers will face change. “This is the first time this has made any sense,” he said.

Detailed proposals are not expected back until roughly 2009 with the probable selection of a winner announced in 2010, assuming the plans are viable. Besides detailed construction plans, the project also lacks Army Corps of Engineers environmental permits for dredging the Elizabeth River and disposing of the mud, VDOT has said.

“There will be an impact to all jobs, from managers to people in the control booths, but we’re two to three years out,” said Dennis W. Heuer , VDOT’s Hampton Roads district administrator. “Right now, we’re concerned about their well-being, and we want to give them as much information as soon as possible to help them plan ahead.”

Heuer said VDOT would like to keep as many people as possible and match skills used at tunnels with other areas in the department.

“This is going to be a $1.2 billion project that we want the private sector to design, finance and build,” Heuer said. “To help them get their investment back, we’ll want them to maintain it, too.”

While the bulk of construction would take place at the new Midtown site, the Downtown Tunnel would undergo some safety improvements. The Brambleton Avenue interchange also would be rebuilt to accommodate a new tube, while a new interchange would be built at I-264 east of Frederick Boulevard.

The proposal is the latest sign that developing and maintaining the region’s transportation infrastructure is changing in light of increasing demand and limited state money.

VDOT is reviewing proposals from private companies to assume maintenance duties, such as grass clipping and curb cleaning, along interstates in South Hampton Roads. That would cost about 38 VDOT jobs.

Several segments of interstates elsewhere in Virginia are already maintained by private companies.

Tyrone Brown, facility manager for the Elizabeth River tunnels, has been through job retraining before, having once worked for a company that was a major supplier to Ford.

“If I stay with VDOT, I believe there will be an opportunity,” Brown said. “But I don’t want my people to think like Chicken Little, you know, 'The sky is falling,’ because it’s not.”

Tom Holden, (757) 446-2331,

tom.holden@pilotonline.com