RELEASE: CONTACT:

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

HRO-0311 Feb. 20, 2003

Norfolk and Suffolk receive over $4.6 million in improvements

The Commonwealth Transportation Board met today and awarded over $4.6 million in transportation improvements for projects in the cities of Norfolk and Suffolk.

The board awarded a $3.8 million contract to Kevor Contracting Corp. of Norfolk to make improvements in downtown Norfolk. The northbound lanes on Boush Street between Brambleton Avenue and City Hall Avenue will be reconstructed.

The lanes will be widened with a new grassy median. The City of Norfolk previously reconstructed the southbound lanes. This work will improve safety for vehicles and pedestrians. During construction, which should take about nine months, motorists will use parallel streets and the southbound lanes for travel.

Gates Road (Route 759) in Suffolk will receive a facelift from Howard Brothers Contractor Inc. of Providence Forge. Howard Brothers received a $781,689 contract to pave, realign and widen the two lanes of Gates Road while adding 6-foot shoulders. The improvements should be finished in the spring of 2004.

The 17-member CTB appointed by the Governor meets on the third Thursday of each month. The board is primarily responsible for locating routes, approving construction contracts, creating traffic regulations, naming highways and administering and allocating for the Transportation Trust Fund.