RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Harry Kenyon (757) 925-1660 harry.kenyon@VDOT.virginia.gov Lauren Hansen 757-925-2583

HRO-0741 Dec. 26, 2007

WARWICK BOULEVARD PROJECT, PHASE II NOW COMPLETE
Phase III will begin by January 2008

NEWPORT NEWS – Since February 2006, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the City of Newport News have been working to ease traffic congestion, improve mobility, and increase safety on Warwick Boulevard around Christopher Newport University. On Friday, December 28 the second phase of the Warwick Boulevard Improvement Project will be completed within budget and almost six months ahead of schedule.

Contractor Suburban Grading and Utilities, Inc., started work on the $14.5 million Phase II of the Warwick Boulevard Improvement Project in September 2006 and will complete the work by December 28, 2007, ahead of the scheduled completion date of June 15, 2008. This phase incorporated storm water, sanitary line and water supply line relocation and upgrades on Warwick Boulevard from Nutmeg Quarter to Nettles Drive. At the request of the City, an additional $900,000 worth of work was added to the project to replaced completely deteriorated portions of the sanitary sewer system. By working closely with the City of Newport News, VDOT was able to add this scope of work to the existing contract saving City taxpayers costs, avoiding additional roadway construction, and avoiding negative impacts to the businesses and customers in this corridor.

During the third and final phase, Warwick Boulevard will be widened and repaved to three lanes in each direction with a center median. Contractor, E.V. Williams, was awarded the $17 million contract in November 2007 and construction is scheduled to begin after the holidays. A completion date for this final phase is set for winter 2009-2010.

For more information on the Warwick Boulevard Improvement Project, visit www.WarwickBoulevard.org.

Highway safety is everyone’s responsibility. Virginia’s highway safety partnership — the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Virginia State Police — challenges you to help prevent highway fatalities. Buckle up. Avoid distractions. Share the road. Drive drug- and alcohol-free. Obey speed limits. For up-to-date traffic and travel information, visit www.VirginiaDOT.org, call 511 or listen to 610AM.

-END-