If you have to cross the Berkley Bridge on a regular basis, no doubt you’ve gotten stuck, sometimes for many minutes, waiting for a ship to sail under.
Starting today, you may still be stuck, but at least you’ll be prepared for the wait.

VDOT (Virginia Department of Transportation) has a set schedule now, so that drivers will know ahead of time when they’ll have to put the car in park along I-264.

You see, the Berkley Bridge used to be an on-demand bridge, meaning anytime a sailing vessel came through, the bridge would go up and vehicle traffic would come to a stop.

Now, VDOT is testing a system where the opposite would be true. VDOT calls it “a result of a temporary deviation from the federal regulation governing bridge lifts across the downtown Norfolk harbor. The temporary deviation, issued by the Fifth United States Coast Guard District, allows VDOT to open the Berkley Bridge during scheduled times rather than on-demand.”

So here are the times and new rules: The I-264 Berkley Bridge will open on signal at 9 a.m., 11a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, beginning the week of Monday, Oct. 19. The bridge will not open during these scheduled times when vessels have not signaled and are not waiting for passage. The bridge will continue to remain closed during commute periods, from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, except during federal holidays.

There is a catch and here it is: the bridge can open upon request during the restricted hours for a vessel with a draft of at least 18 feet if at least six hours of notification has been given.

The scheduled lifts will go through next March (2010).

Let us know what you think!

As you hit the highway with music blaring and a 64-ounce drink at your side, just remember, that rest stop you used to visit likely will be dark.  You’ll have to do your business elsewhere.

That’s because VDOT has closed 18 rest areas around Virginia.  Those budget cuts at work again.

Here’s a portion of the official news release.  And, get ready, travelers.  There are more closures to come.

The 18 rest areas slated to close include:

• I-81 North Rural Retreat
• I-81 South Smyth
• I-81 North Radford
• I-81 South Troutville
• I-81 North Mt. Sidney
• I-81 South Mt. Sidney
• I-81 South New Market
• I-95 North Ladysmith
• I-95 South Ladysmith
• I-95 North Dale City (cars)
• I-95 South Dale City (cars)
• I-66 East Manassas
• I-64 East Goochland
• I-64 West Goochland
• I-85 North Dinwiddie
• I-85 South Dinwiddie
• I-85 North Alberta
• I-85 South Alberta

VDOT will operate the I-66 West Manassas Welcome Center through the summer travel season, since it was the only welcome center impacted by these closures. VDOT will close the I-66 Welcome Center on Sept. 16, following the busy summer travel season.

A map of the affected rest areas is available at http://www.virginiadot.org/news/resources/Statewide/19_SRAWC_Closures.pdf. To learn more detail about VDOT’s service reductions, visit http://www.virginiadot.org/newsroom/default.asp#blueprint

With children in tow, I remember stopping at that rest stop along I-64 in Goochland many times.  What a great resource for weary parents and restless kids.  I get it.  The closures are a sign of these difficult times.  I just have to remember now to give the kids lots and lots of juice *after* the trip is over.  Safe travels!

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!