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.

Is Your Home Prepared for Another Major Storm?

This month I am featuring a collection of the best Checkered Flag blogs from the past few years.  One of our most popular topics is the crazy weather here in Hampton Roads.  Here's a helpful checklist we found for storm and hurricane preparedness. 

This post comes from Kimberly Lankford from partner Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine. (edited for length)

Hurricane season begins on June 1, and now is the perfect time to take steps to protect your home (and finances) from the storms -- rather than waiting until a storm approaches and scrambling to get ready.

1. Consider a home generator

Not only will you be more comfortable with lights, electronics, your refrigerator and air conditioning, but the generator can also help you avoid other problems when the power goes out -- such as flooding when your sump pump stops working or mold that can grow if your basement floods when your air conditioning is on the blink, too.

You may even get a 5% discount on your homeowners insurance if you install an automatic standby generator, which is powered by natural gas or propane and turns on automatically after detecting a power outage. The most common is 17 kilowatts, which powers 16 circuits, says Roy Cranford, president of generator dealer CDS Emergency Power, in Baltimore. The generator costs about $4,000, plus about $3,500 for installation (to connect to your electrical system and gas or propane line).

Portable generators are less expensive and can be a good option if you don't have a gas or propane line, although they generally won't qualify for a homeowners insurance discount. A 6.5 kilowatt portable generator costs about $800 to $1,000, says Cranford, and can power about ten circuits -- enough for most of a 2,000-square-foot house, not counting central air conditioning.

2. Look into flood insurance now

Spring and summer storm flooding often causes damage, which is not covered by homeowners insurance. You can buy a policy from the National Flood Insurance Program from local insurance agents (get price quotes and a risk assessment for your address at FloodSmart.gov). But there's a 30-day waiting period before flood coverage takes effect, so buy it soon to be sure your policy is up and running near the beginning of hurricane season.

3. Add sewage-backup coverage

Heavy rains can overburden the storm water system, causing water or sewage to back up into your house -- a common (and pretty gross) problem during storm season. But most homeowners insurance policies no longer cover sewage backup automatically. It generally costs about $50 to add $10,000 to $20,000 of sewage-backup coverage to your homeowners insurance policy, which will cover damages if your sewer backs up or if water gets into your house because your sump pump stops working.

4. Use new tools to update your home inventory

If you do have storm damage, an up-to-date home inventory can smooth the way to getting your insurance claim paid more quickly. You no longer need to go through your house and write down everything; you can take photos and video of everything -- including your valuables and the architectural details of your home -- with your smart phone and e-mail it to yourself so you can access it from anywhere. Several insurance companies have apps that help you maintain your inventory and file claims online. Or you can use the Insurance Information Institute's Know Your Stuff app or the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' inventory app.

5. Trim trees

Fallen tree branches frequently cause damage during a hurricane, tornado or storm with high winds. If a tree damages your home, the policy will usually pay to fix your home, but it usually pays no more than $500 to $1,000 for tree removal, even though it can cost a few thousand dollars to clean up a fallen tree. This is a good time to do some yard maintenance: Trim shrubs and low-hanging tree branches, and clean your gutters of leaves and other debris so they can handle heavy rains. Do some financial maintenance, too: Add extra money to your emergency fund for any uncovered damages and to be able to pay your homeowners insurance deductible if you end up having a claim.

6. Put together a disaster kit

No matter when a disaster hits, it's a good idea to have a battery-operated radio, flashlights and a phone that isn't dependent on electricity in case the power is out for a while. And right before a storm, stock up on groceries and water, fully charge your cell phone and other electronics, and make sure your car has a full tank of gas.

Meanwhile, store some cash, insurance policies, your home inventory (if it's on paper), tax records and other important papers and contact information in a portable file you can take with you if you are evacuated. And it's also a good idea to store as many of these documents online so they are accessible wherever you are.

For more Hampton Roads Hurricane information, stay tuned to Checkered Flag.com, the home of your favorite Hampton Roads auto parts stores. 

Source: [money.msn.com]