Any Solution for Downtown Tunnel Closure Nightmare?

If you happened to be one of the thousands of drivers who got stuck in between tunnels in Portsmouth last weekend this is probably too little too late.  With no real solution to the tunnel closure nightmare, not to mention multiple ramp closures leading up to the eastbound tube along I-264, the traffic higher-ups have decided that they are going to try putting up a few extra signs.  Leading to?  You got it, another (more expensive) toll bridge. 

Tunnel detour plans change after weekend jam

The Saturday afternoon traffic jam that stretched for miles into the city prompted a change in detours for the next weekend closure of the eastbound Downtown Tunnel.

The revised plan will direct more vehicles to the tolled South Norfolk Jordan Bridge to relieve demand on the Midtown Tunnel, said Lauren Hansen, a spokeswoman for Elizabeth River Crossings, the company overseeing the tunnel work.

Representatives from the Portsmouth Police Department, the state highway department and Elizabeth River Crossings and its contractor met Monday to discuss that and other changes after seeing the poor results from the first of what will be many weekend closures of the eastbound Downtown Tunnel.

"It wasn't expected to back up throughout the city of Portsmouth," Hansen said of the Saturday traffic.

The eastbound Downtown Tunnel will be closed every weekend beginning at 8 p.m. Friday through Sept. 7, except for Labor Day weekend, so crews can remove ceiling tiles in the tunnel as part of a renovation project. More full weekend closures are expected in the fall, but those haven't been set
.

The revised detour plan begins with a different message for drivers on southbound Interstate 664 who are headed toward Virginia Beach. Electronic signs will say that I-264 East - rather than the Downtown Tunnel - is closed, to help tourists better understand the situation, said Susan Clizbe, a spokeswoman from the Virginia Department of Transportation.

"If you weren't from here, it might have been a little unclear what exactly they were talking about," she said of the messages guiding drivers.

Interstate 64 and the High-Rise Bridge will continue to be the primary detour. Motorists who continue onto I-264 toward Norfolk will next be encouraged to exit at Portsmouth Boulevard. There, they will be routed to the Jordan Bridge, a privately owned toll road with no toll booths.

The bridge costs $1.50 for E-ZPass users or $4 for those who pay by mail. The Midtown Tunnel costs 75 cents on the weekend for E-ZPass users or $2.25 for unregistered plates - though the backup there on Saturday frustrated drivers for hours.

The original detour plan - the one that resulted in 3 miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic from the Midtown Tunnel into downtown Portsmouth - sent drivers from Portsmouth Boulevard to the Midtown Tunnel. It mentioned the Jordan Bridge as an alternative route but did not have signs indicating that.

Clizbe said representatives from the city of Portsmouth requested that more drivers be diverted to the Jordan Bridge.

Motorists who don't exit at Portsmouth Boulevard will be forced to leave I-264 at Effingham Street, where orange detour signs will also direct people to the Jordan Bridge. Other signs within the city will point to the Midtown Tunnel.

Hansen said the Crawford Street exit will also be closed at the request of the city, to keep detouring vehicles from clogging Olde Towne.

The detour plan will be reviewed again next week to see whether additional changes should be made, she said.

Article and image source: [pilotonline.com]

For more in Hampton Roads traffic news and Hampton Roads tunnel closures, stay tuned to the home of your top Virginia Beach auto service centers, Checkered Flag.com.