CHESAPEAKE – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), City of Chesapeake, and local citizens celebrated the upcoming opening of Route 17 this morning. A ceremony was held to recognize the end of construction and the much anticipated opening of the new 12-mile stretch of the highway.

Local officials drove antique cars down the route at the culmination of the ceremony, serving as the first vehicles to officially travel on the new highway. Items and artifacts associated with the project were also collected at the event and placed in a time capsule that will be buried at a later date. Virginia Secretary of Transportation Pierce Homer and Chesapeake Mayor Dalton S. Edge were among the speakers.

The new roadway is a four lane divided highway that runs from Dominion Boulevard to the North Carolina state line. On its new location, Route 17 improves safety for the 10,000 motorists who use it daily and better serves increasing traffic volumes heading to and from North Carolina and the Outer Banks.

Today’s ceremony was held on a new bridge that was built over wetlands within the project limits. The bridge features a unique wildlife crossing that allows animals to cross under the bridge without impacting traffic. The Route 17 widening project received national recognition from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) for protecting wildlife and preserving the ecosystem along the Great Dismal Swamp. It was designated as a 2004 Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative. Additionally, In September 2005, VDOT received the Road Beacon Conservation Award for the project. The Road Beacon is an organization dedicated to the promotion of motor vehicle, highway and driving safety.

Construction on Route 17 began in March 2003. It is scheduled to open to traffic on Monday, November 7, 2005. Some portions of the road will remain closed as crews continue tie in work at the North Carolina state line and the connection to Dominion Boulevard in Chesapeake. All traffic switches are expected to be complete and open to traffic by mid December 2005.

Page last modified: Nov. 10, 2005