RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Erin Gregg 757-925-2584 Sandy Shortridge 757-925-3627

HRO-0308 Jan. 24, 2003

Department of Transportation completes local projects in 2002

While working amidst budget cutbacks and a new, leaner six-year road construction program, VDOT in Hampton Roads marked the completion of several new road construction and improvement projects in 2002.

Projects completed include:

Southside

Chesapeake - Kempsville Road Widening – December marked the completion of the final phase of the $21.8 million widening of the Kempsville Road corridor between Battlefield Boulevard and Centerville Turnpike. A new traffic signal is in place at the intersection of Kempsville Road and Clearfield Avenue and a new exit ramp from the northbound bypass onto northbound Kempsville Road.

Norfolk – Shore Drive - In May, VDOT completed the new bridge over Little Creek in the Pretty Lake area. The $10.1 million project included a four-lane bridge to replace a deteriorating existing structure and improves traffic in an area undergoing revitalization.

Virginia Beach - Oceana Boulevard - Work progressed on Oceana Boulevard in two separate projects to improve access to NAS Oceana. The southern project finished in September with a final cost of $6.4 million. Work should wrap up on the north project in early 2003. The newly constructed section of Oceana Boulevard opened in December.

Suffolk - Main Street Widening – Residents and those traveling through Suffolk welcomed the completion of the widening of Main Street in October of this year. This project cost about $3.1 million, included building turn lanes, and provides a smoother flow of traffic on this main corridor through the city.

Emporia – Repair of bridge over Route 58 - The Virginia Department of Transportation and VMS, Inc., the highway asset management company responsible for maintaining sections of Interstate 95, officially reopened the U.S. Route 58 bridge across I-95 near the North Carolina border in June. The bridge sustained serious damage when an over-height vehicle damaged 10 of the 12 steel supports.

Downtown Tunnel Paving - The westbound tube of the Downtown Tunnel on Interstate 264 toward Portsmouth closed for re-paving one weekend in September. Crews worked around-the-clock to resurface the roadway.

Projects opened to traffic:

Peninsula

Grove Interchange - After four years of construction, the Grove Interchange in York and James City counties opened to traffic in March 2002. Almost two miles in length, the Grove Interchange project cost about $32.3 million and provides a new interchange off Interstate 64 with four ramps, two loop ramps, three bridges, and new signs, lighting and other enhancements on Pocahontas Trail (Route 60). The Grove Interchange provides easier access for people traveling to Route 60 from I-64, which in turn relieves congestion on Route 199. The Grove Interchange provides better access to the Grove community, the new industrial park, and Busch Gardens Williamsburg.

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