Elizabeth River Tunnels Project
| Location | Norfolk, Portsmouth |
|---|---|
| Proposer | Elizabeth River Crossings |
| Website | www |
| Status | Open |
| Type | Road |
| Cost estimate | $2.1 billion |
| Start date | July 2012 |
| Completion date | 2017 |
| Stakeholders | Skanska, Macquarie Group |
| Supporters | VDOT |
The Elizabeth River Tunnels Project, a series of transportation projects in the South Hampton Roads region of Virginia, comprises the rehabilitation of the Downtown and existing Midtown Tunnels, the construction of a new parallel Midtown Tunnel, and the extension of the MLK Freeway/U.S. 58 to I-264. Intended to reduce congestion on area surface streets and arterial roads, the project is being administered by Elizabeth River Crossings (ERC) and Virginia Department of Transportation as part of a 58-year public-private partnership concession that will cost about $2.1 billion (2012) to complete.
Transportation around South Hampton Roads is complicated by the various branches of the Elizabeth River (Virginia), which are crossed by two major highways. The busiest spur route in the area, I-264, crosses the river's Eastern Branch (via the Berkley Bridge) and its Southern Branch (via the Downtown Tunnel). Built in 1952, the westbound Downtown Tunnel is the oldest tunnel in Hampton Roads; much of it, including its ceiling tiles, has reached or exceeded its designed service life and requires repairs. The eastbound tube, built in 1987, also requires maintenance, as well as several updates to comply with NFPA 502 regulations.
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