The end of a Newport News bridge’s lifespan could cause a headache via delays on nearby roads that could stretch from 15 minutes to multiple hours, possibly for the next three-and-a-half years. City officials expect the first 30 days to be “complete chaos.”
Newport News officials recently announced the replacement of a small bridge over the CSX rail line that runs under a portion of Fort Eustis Boulevard between Jefferson Avenue and the base. News of the $5.1 million project, which is expected to begin Monday, came as a complete surprise to local leaders who scrambled to notify residents and business owners via the local media.
In an email message sent to the Greater Williamsburg Chamber and Tourism Alliance and forwarded to its members, James City County Administrator Robert Middaugh explained the project’s scope and wrote, “At the end of the day, no one saw fit to let us or others know what was going on. There is clearly a problem with VDOT and City coordination on this project.”
Middaugh wrote that VDOT had not yet approved a proposed traffic signal at the end of an off-ramp at Exit 247 at Lee Hall, which could improve traffic flow. That ramp deposits drivers at Route 143 and often backs up onto the highway already because of 143’s traffic. Middaugh said the signal, once approved, would take an additional 30 days to install.
The bridge was built in 1960, and Newport News officials have determined the bridge is nearing the end of its lifespan. If city officials were to ignore this bridge or the reservoir bridge that’s scheduled to be rebuilt, it would pose a life safety issue, said Everett Skipper, director of engineering for the City of Newport News.
“When we change traffic patterns, people experience that as a new thing,” Skipper said. “There’s a period of adjusting and getting used to what the traffic pattern looks like. Even traffic patterns that work very well initially create delays.”
Once this project is complete in May 2014, Skipper said a bridge crossing the Newport News reservoir less than a mile down the road is scheduled to be replaced, which will continue to hamper traffic conditions for another two years. That project has the potential to extend these delays through May 2016 or later.
No other significant projects are planned in the area through the end of the second bridge replacement project on Fort Eustis Boulevard.
Skipper said the delays will be primarily on local streets, though there is a potential for traffic to have an impact on Interstate 64. Motorists can expect delays in the area in excess of 15 minutes, potentially even hours depending on what time they approach the area. He said the delays will likely be at their worst in the initial weeks of the project. Warwick Boulevard, Fort Eustis Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue will take the brunt of the impact from the project.
He said once the pattern has stabilized, traffic should not be significantly worse than it is today, according to modeling from the Newport News Department of Engineering. Stabilization periods typically take four to six weeks.
That stretch of road, which connects to I-64 at exit 250, is already a source of frustration for area motorists who depend on I-64 for their commute. Traffic from shift changes at the base lead to delays on I-64 and Jefferson Avenue, and the construction is only expected to worsen the condition.
The city of Newport News released a map detailing alternate routes for motorists, which you can find here.
Fort Eustis has already changed some of its procedures to try to lessen the burden it places on Fort Eustis Boulevard. Start times for some base activities have been staggered, and they’ve encouraged many of their employees to carpool, Skipper said.
Historic Triangle Officials Respond
Newport News officials have met with Historic Triangle life safety professionals to get a better idea of how they can best continue their participation in mutual aid agreements between the localities’ fire departments.
Williamsburg and James City County officials are scheduled to meet Monday to continue to discuss the project, according to an email from Williamsburg spokesperson Kate Hoving.
A news release from James City County outlined how county officials expect the project to affect area motorists.
“During construction, commute times will increase and motorists should expect significant delays on I-64, Route 60, Merrimac Trail and Fort Eustis Boulevard. As a result, residents and businesses may experience overflow traffic in the southern part of the County especially along Route 60 and Merrimac Trail,” the release said.
An email from James City County Administrator Robert Middaugh to county officials shed more light on the county’s reaction to the project:
“After a 30 day adjustment period, [Newport News] believes that the road operations will largely return to normal. I do not share their optimism as the corridor functions poorly now and is so fragile in its ability to handle any added stressors that we will likely have an extended period of severe congestion,” Middaugh wrote.
His email suggested a lack of communication surrounding the project.
“Newport News claims that they kept VDOT informed and expected them to inform us as well as others in the region. VDOT staff that we have reached seems to know very little about the project and any VDOT plans,” Middaugh wrote.
He added that county officials are checking with the Virginia State Police to see if they are aware of the project and, if so, whether “they have any contingencies to deal with the chaos and what will likely be a spike in accidents.”
The first phase of the project, which runs through October, will have crews demolish the eastbound portion of the bridge and replace it with a new section. Traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction across the westbound lanes during that stretch of time. One of the left turn lanes from the northbound lanes of Jefferson Avenue will be closed during the life of the project, according to the website for the project.
“If you try to feed two lanes of traffic off Jefferson onto the single lane available on Fort Eustis Boulevard than you’re going to create an even worse jam,” Skipper said. “Part of what we’re doing is transferring some of that traffic so the weight is on Jefferson Avenue instead of Fort Eustis Boulevard.”
The second phase runs from November through May 2014 and will close the westbound portion of the bridge and divert traffic to the newly constructed eastbound portion. Traffic will again be restricted to one lane in each direction.
The third phase consists of median restoration and will take three weeks.
Skipper said anyone who wants to share concerns they have about particular issues created by the project should e-mail Thomas Cheney at [email protected]
Skipper encouraged area drivers to use the VDOT traffic camera system since it does provide visibility of roads near the construction site. You can find that by clicking here. He also said Highway Advisory Radio (1680 AM) and the Virginia 511 system can provide traffic information for drivers who anticipate passing through the area on a given day.
