Transportation Projects Progress in NOVA and Hampton Roads
By E M Barner | Monday, December 5th, 2011 | Hampton Roads, Northern Virginia, VirginiaNorthern Virginia commuters rarely get good news, but tonight (after rush hour, mind you) a new lane opens on I-66 between Fairfax Drive and Sycamore Street in Arlington County.
In a press release earlier today, Congressman Frank Wolf noted that he, along with then Congressman Tom Davis, provided initial funding for the project, which was completed with VDOT funds.
The project added a 2 mile auxiliary lane to I-66 westbound for acceleration and deceleration at a cost of $14 million. Construction took 18 months and represents the first of 3 area “spot improvements” which are expected to increase safety and reduce congestion.
Earlier today, Governor McDonnell announced that a new and improved Midtown Tunnel is under contract in Hampton Roads. The contract covers construction of a new Midtown Tunnel, rehabilitation of the existing Midtown Tunnel and the Downtown Tunnels, as well as extending the Martin Luther King Freeway. The total cost for this project is expected to be $2.1 billion, $362 million of which will be funded directly by VDOT. The project will also be financed through tolls, initially ranging from $1.59 to $1.84 per car for the tunnels and $.50 for the Martin Luther King Freeway extension for tunnel users and $1 for non-tunnel users.
Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton commented: “The state’s use of a public-private partnership structure will enable VDOT to attract approximately $1.7 billion in private investment to a project that yields tangible long-term benefits to the region and the state.”
Once completed, the Midtown tunnel project is expected to save Hampton Roads area commuters an average of 30 minutes a day. Construction is expected to begin in 2012.
What safety and congestion problem areas do you think VDOT should prioritize? Sound off in the comments (we know your legislators are reading here)!
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About the author
E M Barner, the blogger formerly known as DCH / De Civitate Hominis (“concerning the city of man”), writes from a Northern Virginia perspective. Barner has been active in Republican politics and policy since 1994 – as a grassroots volunteer, party leader, and professional.
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Comments
4 Responses to "Transportation Projects Progress in NOVA and Hampton Roads"
Double the capacity of the HRBT. This will support commerce and tourism both. Unfortunately it would also be very expensive.
JZ,
90% of the westbound traffic at the HRBT is going no further than James City County. Extending The Tide across the harbor is more cost-effective.
Yeah, after they determine if it floats, the shipyard can refit the Tide with a paddlewheel.
I do not know what is going on in NOVA, but I do know what is going on down here in Hampton Roads. What is going on is that the Midtown tunnel will be expanded at the expense of tolling both that tunnel and the Downtown. Foreign investors can’t make enough money on their improvements without also tolling the tunnel already paid for by taxpayers, so we will let them toll both of the tunnels to make sure they earn a profit.
Thank you Republicans and thank you Governor McDonnell. Why don’t you just mortgage our Aircraft Carriers to the highest bidder as well?
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