How many of you are wishing right now you didn’t have to depend on a tunnel to get out of town?

And, quite honestly, this morning’s mess (that has stretched into this afternoon) has affected people who didn’t even need to go in the direction of the Peninsula.

Feel free to vent, by the way.

The job was already busy this morning.  Last night’s storm had caused problems at the James River Bridge.  The JRB was running smoothly by showtime, though.  The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel was another story.  I chatted with the Sergeant on duty who told me that a tractor trailer had overturned during the bad weather last night in the southbound lanes.  The driver was taken to the hospital, by the way.  The accident had a lasting effect on the roads, though.  Traffic could only travel in one direction at a time.  Not a big deal really at that time of the morning.  But folks who travel the C.B.B.T. that early in the morning don’t expect trouble, so we were hearing about delays between 15 and 30 minutes.

That cleared up.

Then, boom.

I was watching the WAVY Traffic Jamcams just after 6:30 a.m.  I just happened to look at the camera on the Norfolk side of the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel.  The Westbound lanes looked a little slow, which is unusual for this time of the morning.  I checked a feed that I get on traffic troubles in the area, and it said there were problems at the H.R.B.T.  Sure enough, I caught up with VDOT just as they stopped the Westbound I-64 lanes.  I was able to get it on the air at 6:37 a.m.

Unfortunately, those drivers waiting to make it through the tunnel were stuck–for quite a while.  We first thought the standing water in the tunnel would cause a delay of about thirty minutes.  Nope.

About 7:15 a.m. or so, we started seeing cars being detoured off the I-64 exits, to 1st View.  Those cars were then brought around through Norfolk streets and pushed to I-64 Eastbound to make their way to the Peninsula via the DOWNTOWN TUNNEL, then the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel.  We were told then the Westbound tube would be closed for awhile.

Madness.

So, BIG, BIG problems for people heading to the Peninsula (I bet flights got missed at the Newport News airport), then those folks who were expecting to encounter normal Downtown Tunnel traffic were hit with a double dose (there were a couple of accidents as well throughout the morning I-264 Westbound).  Then, wait, there’s more.  I-664 Northbound at the Monitor Merrimac looks like a parking lot.

I know some of you may be trying to get out of town, ahead of the Fourth of July travelers.  What an exercise in frustration!

So, this is what happened, according to VDOT. A water pump inside the Westbound tube malfunctioned, causing the traffic headed from the Southside to the Peninsula to come to a full stop.  We’re hearing word it may be related to the severe storm from last night that resulted in a power outage.  It may take several hours for the Westbound tube to be reopened.

Hopefully, it will be up and running later in the afternoon, for another frustrating ride home.

You may be getting ready to hit the road to take that last great vacation before the start of school.  Good for you!  And, some good news as you as you plan your trip.  You may want to take advantage of a well-placed and highly valued rest area!  The Southeastern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials has awarded the Virginia Department of Transportation the Innovative Management Award for the New Kent Safety Rest Area and Information Center along Interstate 64 just outside Richmond.  It’s also environmentally-friendly, the Commonwealth’s first LEED gold-certified state government building.  Congratulations, and for travelers, enjoy!