On July 2nd, 2009, a “perfect storm” of transportation nightmares occurred in Hampton Roads. Nearly simultaneous incidents conspired against holiday travelers in the region: 1 tube of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (HRBT) closed due to an undetected water main break, an overturned tractor trailer on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT), the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel’s 3 car accident, the 1 car accident on the high rise bridge, a downed power line closure of the James River Bridge, and Waterside Drive closure for opening of Harborfest in downtown Norfolk.
At a follow-up meeting, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) got an earful of advice from elected officials and citizens. The following video, provided by the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning organization (HRTPO), is a summary of events concerning the incidents contributing to those traffic delays in Hampton Roads.
“Over the long term, we need credible alternatives to existing infrastructure if we’re serious about evacuation and economic development,” said Virginia’s Transportation Secretary Pierce Homer.
Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim said he wanted to “make it forcably known that current conditions are not acceptable.”
“What can we fix one bite at a time?” asked Virginia Delegate John Cosgrove, Chair of the Hampton Roads Legislative Delegation.
For the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, the time is now to prioritize the projects needed in the region to start the fixes “one bite at a time” by asking the public for their input.
Get involved before September 30th and take HRTPO’s Transportation Project Prioritization and Selection Process Survey.