If you travel through the Downtown & Midtown Tunnels in the overnight hours, be prepared for some potential delays. VDOT is carrying out road work, what it is calling “unavoidable maintenance activities.”

Midtown Tunnel drivers will see alternating eastbound and westbound closures from Tuesday, June 26 through Thursday, June 28, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. That means one lane will remain open while VDOT crews stop traffic to let the other direction travel through the tube.

The Downtown Tunnel will remain open, with lanes blocked for maintenance in the overnight hours.

I-264 Downtown Tunnel West – Monday, June 25, through Thursday, June 28, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – alternating lane closures
I-264 Downtown Tunnel West – Monday, June 25, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – single, right lane closure
I-264 Downtown Tunnel East – Tuesday, June 26, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – single, right lane closure
I-264 Downtown Tunnel West – Wednesday, June 27, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – single, left lane closure
I-264 Downtown Tunnel East – Thursday, June 28, from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. – single, left lane closure

Heads up, weekend travelers!

VDOT has a lot of work to do and closures will take place at two major crossings.
I-664 SB lanes toward Suffolk at the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel will shut down at 8:00 tonight (4/27/12) and will stay closed for re-paving work until 6 a.m. Monday (4/30/12).

The Gilmerton Bridge (along Military Highway in Chesapeake) will close in both directions, also starting at 8:00 tonight and reopening by 5 a.m. Monday.

For your future planning, the HRBT will be closed I-64 EB NEXT weekend, starting at 8 Friday night (5/4/12) and reopening by 5 a.m. Monday (5/7/12).

Here’s a look at your alternates for this weekend’s closures:

MMMBT Weekend of Friday, April 27, until Monday, April 30, 2012

The signed detours for I-664 MMMBT south will be as follows:

· From I-64 east approaching I-664 south (Hampton Coliseum), motorists must stay on I-64 east through the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT). Follow I-64 east to I-264 west towards the Downtown Tunnel. Follow I-264 west through the tunnel to the end of the detour at I-664 north/Route 58 west (Bower’s Hill).

· From I-664 south approaching MMMBT (27th street), crews will have a multi-lane closure in place to reroute traffic to I-664 north towards I-64 east (Hampton Coliseum) and the HRBT. From the I-664 south closure motorists will take I-664 east to I-264 west towards the Downtown Tunnel. Follow I-264 west through the tunnel to the end of the detour at I-664 north/Route 58 west (Bower’s Hill).

Please note: The Route 17 James River Bridge is also a suggested alternate route. However, Route 17 traffic is expected to be much higher in volume than normal. Traffic signal timings have been adjusted to compensate for the additional traffic. Motorists using local streets may experience a longer than usual delay due to the expected higher traffic volumes and increased timing.

Gilmerton Bridge Closure:

· Motorists are encouraged to use the I-64 High Rise Bridge as an alternate route during this weekend bridge closure. The Downtown Tunnel and the I-264 Berkley Bridge are also alternate routes. Maritime traffic should not be impacted.

HRBT Weekend of Friday, May 4, until Monday, May 7, 2012

The signed detours for I-64 HRBT east will be as follows:

· From I-64 east approaching I-664 south (Hampton Coliseum), motorists must stay on I-664 south through the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel (MMMBT). Follow I-664 south to I-264 east towards the Downtown Tunnel. Follow I-264 east through the tunnel to the end of the detour at I-64 east and I-264 east (Barry Robinson Interchange).

· For motorist staying on I-64 east towards the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel, they must exit at Mallory Street then head west on I-64 towards Williamsburg. Follow I-664 south towards the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge Tunnel (MMMBT) to I-264 east towards the Downtown Tunnel. Follow I-264 east through the tunnel to the end of the detour at I-64 east and I-264 east (Barry Robinson Interchange).

Yes, we’ve been spoiled for two weeks.  Road work has been put on hold for the holidays.  But, the Winter Break is just about over, and we’re getting notices of some delays you may encounter on your morning and evening commutes, starting next week.

Work on the light rail project in downtown Norfolk is continuing with a vengeance!  Look for lane closures at and near the intersection of City Hall Avenue and Monticello Avenue after evening rush hour starting on Monday, January 5.

Two inside westbound lanes will be closed on City Hall Avenue at the intersection of Monticello Avenue.  The lane closures are needed so Dominion Virginia Power can relocate utilities to prepare for light rail construction.  Crews will work 12 hours a day to complete the project as quickly as possible.  It is estimated the project will take about two months to complete, weather permitting.

Traffic will be impacted as follows:

· All westbound traffic will be required to turn right onto Monticello Avenue.  Vehicles will be unable to proceed through the intersection.

· The left turn lane onto Monticello Avenue will be closed to eastbound traffic.

· Between City Hall Avenue and just north of Tazewell Street, Monticello Avenue will become two-way, with one northbound lane and one southbound lane.

· Parking will be prohibited along Monticello Avenue between City Hall Avenue and Market Street to accommodate the lane shifts.

A detailed map of detours and alternate routes is available at: http://www.norfolk.gov/PublicWorks/pdf/tp-cityhallatmonticello.pdf

Pedestrians crossing at the City Hall/Monticello intersection should be alert to pedestrian directional signage.  Police will be directing both vehicular and pedestrian traffic at the intersection.

Motorists who typically access the Boush Street garage on City Hall Avenue from Saint Pauls Boulevard will need to take an alternate route to access the garage from one of the following:

Waterside Drive to Boush Street

Plume Street to Boush Street

or from the intersection of Granby Street and City Hall Avenue.

When exiting the Boush Street garage, motorists are advised to turn right and follow Boush Street to travel north or follow Waterside Drive to the I-64/I-264 interchange.

It is important to note that power will not be cut off to businesses or residents during this time.

The City of Norfolk reminds motorists that the downtown area is open for business throughout all construction projects.  There are over 9,000 parking spaces in downtown parking facilities available after 6 p.m. on weekdays and on weekends.  These facilities are easily accessible via primary streets that are outside the construction zones.

For more information and a detailed listing of lane and street closures in Norfolk, please visit:   www.norfolk.gov/publicworks/tipreport.asp