Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel (I-64) Expansion

[plain]

The HRBT has been closed EB for most of the morning. At around 10 this morning VDOT opened the right lane, but then closed it again around 10:45. As of right now (12:13 PM) EB is still completely closed. I expect whenever it does open again I anticipate that the delays will last well past the evening commute.

[plain]

UPDATE: The EB lanes are now open again. Backups currently extend past I-664, about 5 miles.

[74/171FAN]

While plain's posts were not about HRBT expansion, I thought it was just better to keep HRBT discussion in this thread moving forward.

-Mark

[hwyfan]

After the completion of the project, commercial trucks will be still relegated to the 1957 tunnel, with its 13'6" clearance.  No consideration given to perhaps putting trucks through the new higher clearance tunnel under construction.

[MCRoads]

After the completion of the project, commercial trucks will be still relegated to the 1957 tunnel, with its 13'6" clearance.  No consideration given to perhaps putting trucks through the new higher clearance tunnel under construction.

Unless plans have dramatically changed, 2 older, 1957 tunnels, will run northbound while the new tunnels run southbound. So this comment really makes no sense.

[sprjus4]

After the completion of the project, commercial trucks will be still relegated to the 1957 tunnel, with its 13'6" clearance.  No consideration given to perhaps putting trucks through the new higher clearance tunnel under construction.

Unless plans have dramatically changed, 2 older, 1957 tunnels, will run northbound while the new tunnels run southbound. So this comment really makes no sense.

What? First, only one tunnel is from the 1950s, the other is from the mid 1970s with a higher clearance.

Additionally, what you just stated proves his point exactly. One direction (westbound) will be regulated to the 1957 tunnel. The 1970s tunnel will serve HO/T traffic, not trucks. Westbound trucks will still be restricted to one 1957 tunnel. So the comment does make sense...

[wriddle082]

After the completion of the project, commercial trucks will be still relegated to the 1957 tunnel, with its 13'6" clearance.  No consideration given to perhaps putting trucks through the new higher clearance tunnel under construction.

Unless plans have dramatically changed, 2 older, 1957 tunnels, will run northbound while the new tunnels run southbound. So this comment really makes no sense.

What? First, only one tunnel is from the 1950s, the other is from the mid 1970s with a higher clearance.

Additionally, what you just stated proves his point exactly. One direction (westbound) will be regulated to the 1957 tunnel. The 1970s tunnel will serve HO/T traffic, not trucks. Westbound trucks will still be restricted to one 1957 tunnel. So the comment does make sense...

Can they just make it so the westbound HOT lanes use the 1957 tunnel, and make general purpose traffic and trucks use the 1970's tunnel?  Or are they just going to continue to make trucks over 13'6"  heading westbound use the MMMBT?

It would also be cool, but expensive, if they built carriageway crossover bridges on either side of the old tunnels.  Either way I do feel that the HOT lanes will flow just fine in the 1957 tunnel (because most likely it will primarily be passenger car traffic), and that trucks need to be able to use the 1970's tunnel, if for no other reason so that a long-standing problem with these tunnels is finally resolved.

[SteveG1988]

If you watch the video, it looks like the current structure will be turned into Northbound only, so i could see them having a policy of "taller trucks use bore so and so" like baltimore has a policy on the Fort McHenry tunnel for all trucks to use the rightmost "Bore" Their terminology not mine. It's a tube not a bore

[roadman65]

https://goo.gl/maps/C7xsdRhZMo6cxW8c8
Does this ramp closure have anything to due with the construction at all ?

[74/171FAN]

https://goo.gl/maps/C7xsdRhZMo6cxW8c8
Does this ramp closure have anything to due with the construction at all ?

It goes back to past discussion in this thread.  (https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=5244.0)

I cannot find the posts mentioning the timing of the ramp being closed.

[Mapmikey]

https://goo.gl/maps/C7xsdRhZMo6cxW8c8
Does this ramp closure have anything to due with the construction at all ?

No.  Here is a June 2021 article discussing the problem and why they changed the setup to a daily afternoon closure.

The big message city leaders want drivers to know: the 15th View ramp is closed every afternoon between 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Drivers should enter the interstate from 4th View Street, Tidewater Drive, or Granby Street.

The new traffic patterns are temporary. They'll be in place until the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel expansion project is complete in 2025.

My speculation is that once the project is completed (doubling I-64 capacity), the belief is there won't be a reason for people to follow Ocean View to that ramp (i.e. to bypass a backed up interstate).

[roadman65]

Well it's very ironic that Willoughby is complaining about traffic on Ocean View considering before I-64 opened between US 460 and the HRBT it was the main highway as the east end approach to the Bridge Tunnel connected to that with the pre I-64 Bridge Tunnel that was only two lanes.  When Busch Gardens opened in 1976, I remember the stretch of I-64 from what is now I-564 to 4th View was not yet opened, when we drove that part to get to the Naval Base as Granby was the connection of the two segments on both ends. Now that is a traffic nightmare on what didn't exist in 1976.

However progress over time changed things.   The ADT counts were nothing forty years ago to what they are today, hence why the original HRBT was only doubled and not given the lanes they need now.

It's amazing how things change with traffic and jams on roads that were never there before.

[plain]

No pics, but earlier I observed both directions using the EB bridge over the Hampton River/VA 351, with a jersey barrier separating the traffic.

[jb_va23]

No pics, but earlier I observed both directions using the EB bridge over the Hampton River/VA 351, with a jersey barrier separating the traffic.

You are correct. I live in the area, and I believe it will be like this for awhile. They are replacing the Hampton River Bridges as a part of the overall HRBT and 64 Express Lanes project.

[roadman65]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XQTYcbyMazZVGsPB8
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9830536,-76.3021198,3a,75y,165.73h,96.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sU6dEdE4s746FEPmPuCWezw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I see they're going to soon shift traffic to the permanent EB bridge on the Hampton side using a temporary crossing to shift traffic back to the current EB Tunnel, if they haven't yet.  Being the images are from last fall, it could be done already as those bridge decks looked drivable then.

[74/171FAN]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XQTYcbyMazZVGsPB8
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9830536,-76.3021198,3a,75y,165.73h,96.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sU6dEdE4s746FEPmPuCWezw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I see they're going to soon shift traffic to the permanent EB bridge on the Hampton side using a temporary crossing to shift traffic back to the current EB Tunnel, if they haven't yet.  Being the images are from last fall, it could be done already as those bridge decks looked drivable then.

I am unable to help you, but I did drive through the construction zone westbound in late February.  (https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBk6Ls)

[sprjus4]

I'm not sure of the status of that area, but the overall project completion date has now been delayed to August 2027... Definitely something we've never seen before... 

https://www.13newsnow.com/article/traffic/hampton-roads-bridge-tunnel-hrbt-interstate-expansion-project-delayed/291-697af28a-e293-432b-b6b2-0c7ce7415d5d

[plain]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XQTYcbyMazZVGsPB8
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9830536,-76.3021198,3a,75y,165.73h,96.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sU6dEdE4s746FEPmPuCWezw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I see they're going to soon shift traffic to the permanent EB bridge on the Hampton side using a temporary crossing to shift traffic back to the current EB Tunnel, if they haven't yet.  Being the images are from last fall, it could be done already as those bridge decks looked drivable then.

Looking at the traffic cameras, it doesn't look like either direction is using the new trestles yet.

[Thing 342]

https://maps.app.goo.gl/XQTYcbyMazZVGsPB8
https://www.google.com/maps/@36.9830536,-76.3021198,3a,75y,165.73h,96.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sU6dEdE4s746FEPmPuCWezw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

I see they're going to soon shift traffic to the permanent EB bridge on the Hampton side using a temporary crossing to shift traffic back to the current EB Tunnel, if they haven't yet.  Being the images are from last fall, it could be done already as those bridge decks looked drivable then.

Looking at the traffic cameras, it doesn't look like either direction is using the new trestles yet.

It'll be a few months before those new trestles are ready, there's a pretty severe height difference between the end of the southern portion of the new EB trestle and the existing roadbed on Willoughby Spit and they haven't started actual pavement on a connection between them.