First, let me say I do appreciate a good “beltway” system (is there really such a thing, though?) According to dictionary.com, a beltway is simply a highway encircling an urban area. I grew up in Northern Virginia, where learning to drive on “The Capital Beltway” was a rite of passage and it definitely wasn’t for the faint of heart. But, living up there and working in Northern Virginia, Rockville, MD, and sometimes, Washington, D.C., I had to drive in it and surprisingly, I very rarely got lost (and this was before GPS!!!)

Moving to Hampton Roads almost nine years ago, who knew I would be more baffled by our beltway system here?

I don’t think I am alone, so I’m hoping to clear up some confusion with this post. Plus, we have plenty of new people who call Hampton Roads home now. This is for you.

We’ve been talking about this in the newsroom. It’s a conversation sparked by an email I received from a viewer recently, who questioned why I didn’t use the terms “inner” and “outer” loop of the beltway on the air.

First, here’s a screenshot of a map of the metro Hampton Roads area.

Here’s how the Virginia Department of Transportation describes it: The Hampton Roads Beltway was designated to ease confusion along I-64 south of I-264. Think of the Beltway as one big circle. Just
envision the outside lanes of the circle as the Outer Loop and the inside lanes as the Inner Loop. The Inner Loop follows original I-64 East and I-664 North. The Outer Loop follows I-64 West and I-664 South.
To aid drivers, the Beltway is fully signed and every “reassurance shield” along I-64 and I-664 is accompanied by a Hampton Roads Beltway trailblazer.

In talking with many people here, the confusion comes in when I-64 hits Chesapeake. That’s because I-64 “East” actually runs Westbound at this point, ending at Bowers Hill (where I-664, I-64, and I-264 come together). Around this area you will see signs for the inner or outer loop of the Hampton Roads Beltway. All entrance ramps between Bowers Hill and the east junction of I-264 are signed with control cities that will change according to the location of the exit. For inner (westbound) traffic, Suffolk is the most common control city used, although Norfolk is used at two entrances in Chesapeake to indicate the most direct route to Norfolk (via Interstate 464). For outer (eastbound) traffic, Norfolk, Hampton, and Virginia Beach are used along the way.

Does everyone know that “Inner Loop” means you’re traveling I-64 Westbound (although technically you say I-64 EB) and “Outer Loop” means you’re traveling I-64 Eastbound (and you technically say I-64 WB)?

Now you do.

I may need to get some aspirin.

It might help to think of the Hampton Roads Beltway in terms of the Capital Beltway.

With the Capital Beltway, the two directions of travel, clockwise and counterclockwise, have become known respectively as the “Inner Loop” and the “Outer Loop.”

But in Hampton Roads, we don’t have the NB and SB as they do in the D.C. area.

Here is how I have tried to make it easier to understand.

Instead of going into the Inner/Outer Loop discussion on the air, I use the control cities as my marker. I try to make it simple by focusing on the destination. If there’s an accident affecting travelers heading toward Virginia Beach, that’s what I say, even though, technically I know it’s I-64 Westbound. I usually drop the WB or EB. Thanks to a viewer, I just may add, “Inner loop” of the Hampton Roads Beltway to my update.

And, if you got to the bottom of this post, maybe then you’ll know exactly what I mean.

Have a great weekend!