AASHTO Journal, 18 January 2013
The Virginia Department of Transportation has teamed up with Elizabeth River Crossings, LLC to break ground on a new $1.7 billion Elizabeth River Tunnel project in the Hampton Roads region.
The Elizabeth River Tunnel Project is a public private partnership between VDOT and ERC that will construct a new tunnel parallel to the current Midtown Tunnel under the Elizabeth River. The project also includes improvements to the Downtown Tunnel and will extend the Martin Luther King Expressway.
The existing Midtown Tunnel is 50 years old and carries a million vehicles each month, making it the most heavily traveled two-lane road east of the Mississippi. However, with a 70 percent increase in population since the tunnel was constructed, usage of the tunnel has increased by about 600 percent, necessitating that something be done to increase capacity.
Under the partnership agreement, ERC will finance, build, operate, and maintain the new structures for a 58-year time frame. ERC will collect tolls starting in 2014 at the Midtown and Downtown tunnels, as well as the MLK extension. VDOT will own the new infrastructure and oversee ERC.
VDOT estimates the new structures will save the average round-trip user about 30 minutes each day, which translates into a financial savings from less time sitting in congestion.
VDOT Secretary Sean Connaughton said the benefits of the project are already starting to be seen in the area.
“The start of the Elizabeth River Tunnels project brings significant job, businesses and economic opportunities for Portsmouth, Norfolk, and the Hampton Roads region,” said Connaughton in a statement. “Already, 150 contracts valued at more than $21 million have been awarded to Disadvantaged Business Enterprises and Small, Women-owned, and Minority firms. In total, the project will procure $345 million worth of contracts for small, women, and minority businesses in the region over the next four years. While the short-term benefits bring jobs, the long-term benefits will greatly improve safety, connectivity, and the overall transportation network in the region.”
Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez was in attendance at the project’s groundbreaking last week and congratulated VDOT and ERC on getting to this point.
“The project is a perfect example of transportation infrastructure that enhances safety, mobility, and the regional economy for years to come,” Mendez said. “By both creating jobs and improving access to jobs through improved connectivity, the project supports economic growth.”
Further information on the Elizabeth River Tunnels project is available at DriveERT.com.