Travelers heading to the South Side this weekend are urged to avoid driving near the Hampton-Roads Bridge Tunnel, which will be closed for paving overnight beginning at 9 p.m.
Crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will close the HRBT to Norfolk overnight today, Saturday and Sunday while they were to repave the tunnel. The eastbound tunnel will be closed from 9 p.m. to 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday nights, and from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sunday night.
Interstate 64 eastbound traffic approaching the HRBT will be detoured to the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT). Motorists should still expect up to a half-mile delay at the MMMBT beginning at 9 p.m. until the work zone is cleared the following morning.
VDOT is picking back up where it left off when the repaving project was started the weekend of Sept. 14. The project was suspended while VDOT investigated how it could finish repairs to the HRBT and James River Bridge without replicating the dual closures that were dubbed a “traffic nightmare” over that weekend.
During the closures, crews will be milling the ground, then placing new asphalt in the left lane within the eastbound tube of the HRBT. Several traffic safety measures, including pavement markings, will also be replaced. Westbound traffic will not be impacted and lanes will remain open during construction.
While the HRBT is closed, VDOT will suspend its project to replace the grid deck on the James River Bridge, which will remain open over the weekend.
Motorists are encouraged to call 511 or the Traffic Information Line at 757-361-3016, visit www.511virginia.org, or listen to Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) 1680 AM for current traffic and travel information.
