Chesapeake Transportation Priorities

On April 12, 2011, the Chesapeake City Council approved a resolution requesting that the Virginia Department of Transportation plan and fund several projects within the City of Chesapeake in its six-year improvement plan. Following is a list of those projects.

Contact your elected officials regarding these transportation projects.

Contact the Commonwealth Transportation Board.

Resolution
Approved by Chesapeake City Council on April 12, 2011

A.    NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM (NHS) INTERSTATE FUNDING

A-1 - I-64 from I-464 to Bowers Hill - Widen to six lanes including replacement of the high-rise bridge with a fixed span. Traffic on this interstate is already highly congested during peak hours and traffic volumes continue to grow. I-64 bridge openings exacerbate this congestion. Project should include the exit ramp to I-464 (Dominion Blvd.) southbound. 

A-2 - I-664 Widening to 6 Lanes - Traffic and congestion of this roadway continue to substantially increase each year. With the limited number of water crossings between the Southside and the Peninsula, these improvements are necessary to provide for the safe and efficient movement of people and goods throughout the region.

B.    NHS - NON INTERSTATE, STATEWIDE STP, OR STATE FUNDING

B-1 - Dominion Boulevard from I-464 to Cedar Road – This project will widen Dominion Boulevard to four lanes including a fixed span bridge over the Elizabeth River. Service on this roadway deteriorates to gridlock during a.m. and p.m. peak hours. This condition is exacerbated by frequent openings of the existing two-lane drawbridge.

B-2 - Dominion Boulevard from Cedar Road to U.S. Route 17 South/George Washington Highway - This project will widen Dominion Boulevard to four lanes within the existing right-of-way.  This section of roadway experiences heavy traffic and serves a major truck route for the Hampton Roads region, carrying over 12 percent trucks.

C.    URBAN FUNDING - STATEWIDE STP OR STATE FUNDING

C-1 -Portsmouth Boulevard – This project will widen the existing two-lane road to four lanes from Jolliff Road to the Suffolk city line. Portsmouth Boulevard serves as the main arterial roadway connecting the Cities of Chesapeake, Suffolk and Portsmouth. Since the construction of I-664, this area has been one of the fastest growing areas in the region. Additional capacity is necessary to accommodate the growing traffic demand along this corridor.  This project is being coordinated with similar improvements within the City of Suffolk.

C-2 - 22nd Bridge Replacement – The existing bridge was constructed in 1938 and is structurally deficient.  The current sufficiency rating is a "2" on a 100 point scale and thus requires a weight restriction of 5 tons.

C-3 - Hanbury Road – This project will widen the existing two-lane road to four lanes from Johnstown Road to Battlefield Boulevard.  Hanbury Road serves as an east-west connector between Johnstown Road and Battlefield Boulevard.  It also serves as the sole access to Fire Station Number 5, Great Bridge High School and Great Bridge Intermediate School.  Congestion on this roadway has reached the point where additional capacity is necessary.

C-4 - Mt. Pleasant Road, Phase 1 – This project will widen the existing two-lane road to four lanes from the Chesapeake Expressway to Etheridge Road. Traffic volumes on the road create significant congestion during peak hours.  Lack of turn lanes and shoulders create significant backups due to left-turning vehicles, school buses and refuse collection.

C-5 - Mt. Pleasant Road, Phase 2 – This project will widen the existing two-lane road to four lanes from Etheridge Road to Centerville Turnpike. Traffic volumes have grown to the point that additional capacity is necessary.

C-6 - Mt. Pleasant Road / Great Bridge By-Pass Interchange Improvements - - Congestion has increased to the point where the movement onto and off of the Great Bridge By-pass is blocking the through lanes on both the By-pass and Mt. Pleasant Road.  Improvements are necessary to enhance both safety and capacity in the area. 

C-7 - Triple Decker Bridge Rehabilitation - This interchange of U.S. Route 13, U.S. Route 460 and the Norfolk-Southern rail line was constructed in 1948 and is reaching the end of its service life.  Rehabilitation is necessary to avoid a complete replacement in the future.

C-8 - S. Military Highway Corridor Improvements - The S. Military Highway Corridor Study proposes that Military Highway be reconfigured into a roadway that balances local needs with regional needs.  Improvements include the widening of Military Highway to six lanes, installation of bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and the redirection of truck traffic once the Gilmerton Bridge is replaced.

C-9 - Military Highway – This project will widen the existing segment from Allison Drive to the east City line from four lanes to six lanes.  Volumes have increased on this important inter-city connector to the point that additional capacity is required to reduce congestion.

D.    UNDESIGNATED FUNDING

D-1 - Great Dismal Swamp Trail - The construction of a new U.S. Route 17 parallel and to the east of the existing Route 17 alignment presents a unique opportunity for the conversion of the existing roadway to a recreational trail facility. This project will convert approximately 8 miles of existing Route 17 to a recreational trail and will also construct approximately 5.5 miles of a 10’ off-road path terminating at the intersection of George Washington Highway and Cedar Road.

D-2 - Ballahack Road Defense Access Road Improvements - Ballahack Road serves as the sole access to the Naval Support Activity - Northwest Annex facility.  Construction of a 400-cell prison is also under construction and will be staffed with approximately 200 military personnel.  The existing roadway is narrow, has little to no shoulder in some locations and has a high accident rate.  The proposed project includes ditch and should improvements as well as curve realignments.

D-3 - Centerville Turnpike Bridge Replacement Feasibility Study - The existing drawbridge was constructed in 1955.   Traffic along the portion of Centerville Turnpike has increased to a point where additional capacity is necessary.  Heavy traffic volumes are experienced in the a.m. and p.m. peak hours and are compounded by hourly bridge openings.

D-4 - Chesapeake Airport Access Road - This roadway would link the Chesapeake Airport on West Road directly to the new Route 17 alignment, significantly improving access to the airport.