RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Tiffany Elliott 757-925-1660 tiffany.elliott@VDOT.virginia.gov

HRO-0504 Jan. 11, 2005

OCEAN VIEW COORDINATING COMMITTEE AND VDOT TO HOST PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON TUNNEL CONGESTION
Meeting to focus on Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Operations

NORFOLK - Have you ever sat in traffic at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and wondered why traffic wasn't moving? On Thursday night, top officials from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will explore the causes of congestion at the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel and possible solutions to this issue at a public discussion hosted by the Ocean View Coordinating Committee (OVCC). The meeting will be held at the Ocean View Senior Center, located at 600 East Ocean View Avenue in Norfolk from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"VDOT is taking a proactive approach to improving the flow of traffic through the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel," said Dwayne Cook, Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Facility Manager. "We're tapping into the public to make the best of the road system that we have."

The evening will include brief remarks by OVCC Chairperson Barbara Saunders and will be moderated by OVCC sub-committee chair Glenn Russell. Guest speakers from VDOT will be Dennis Heuer, P.E., Hampton Roads District Administrator and Dwayne Cook, Facility Manager for the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel. A brief presentation beginning at 7 p.m. will highlight the challenges facing the tunnel, including frequent traffic stoppages, over height vehicles and growing maintenance needs. Citizens will be given an opportunity to submit questions to VDOT officials following the main presentation.