Midtown Tunnel
Encyclopedia
The Midtown Tunnel crosses the main channel of the Elizabeth River
in the South Hampton Roads
area. It links the independent City of Portsmouth
with the independent City of Norfolk
. It carries U.S. Highway 58 and operates without tolls.
and the Berkley Bridge
. It was the second fixed crossing directly between Portsmouth and Norfolk across the Elizabeth River. It was financed and built by the Elizabeth River Tunnel Commission with toll revenue bond
s. In 1988 and 1989, during an expansion of I-264
, the Downtown Tunnel and the Berkley Bridge were rebuilt and expanded. Tolls were also removed from the Midtown and Downtown tunnels at that time.
In the westbound lane of US Route 58 right before the tunnel's entry, there is an HOV lane that spans a total of 25 yards (until its removal during construction in 2007). There is some speculation that this might be the shortest HOV lane in the United States, and possibly the world.
. The facility is equipped with floodgates designed for closure to protect it from flooding during extreme weather conditions such as East Coast hurricanes. Managers of the Virginia Department of Transportation
(VDOT) failed to adequately test the floodgates and it was later determined they were malfunctioning and could not close. The Midtown Tunnel was closed for an extended repair period, causing traffic problems in the weeks following the damage.
VDOT revamped its operating procedures at all of its tunnels in the wake of the incident. Studies of additional harbor crossings have also gained additional attention since then.
. Construction is expected to be complete in 2016.
Map of the construction plans including the Midtown Tunnel expansion and the MLK Jr. Expressway
Elizabeth River (Virginia)
The Elizabeth River is a tidal estuary forming an arm of Hampton Roads harbor at the southern end of Chesapeake Bay in southeast Virginia in the United States. It is located along the southern side of the mouth of the James River, between the cities of Portsmouth and Norfolk...
in the South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads
South Hampton Roads is a region located in the extreme southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States, and is part of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC MSA with a population about 1.7 million....
area. It links the independent City of Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
with the independent City of Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
. It carries U.S. Highway 58 and operates without tolls.
History
The two-lane Midtown Tunnel was completed September 6, 1962, supplementing the Downtown TunnelDowntown Tunnel
The Downtown Tunnel on Interstate 264 crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in the South Hampton Roads area. It links the independent City of Portsmouth with the independent City of Norfolk...
and the Berkley Bridge
Berkley Bridge (Virginia)
The Berkley Bridge is a double-leaf bascule bridge across the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. It carries Interstate 264, U.S. Route 460 Alternate, and State Route 337 across the river, connecting the Berkley neighborhood south of the river with downtown...
. It was the second fixed crossing directly between Portsmouth and Norfolk across the Elizabeth River. It was financed and built by the Elizabeth River Tunnel Commission with toll revenue bond
Toll revenue bond
A toll revenue bond is a financial promissory note usually issued to generate funds for the construction and/or operation of a public accommodation such as an expressway, bridge, or tunnel...
s. In 1988 and 1989, during an expansion of I-264
Interstate 264 (Virginia)
Interstate 264 is an Interstate Highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. It runs from a junction with Interstate 64 and Interstate 664 near Bowers Hill in Chesapeake east into Portsmouth and through the Downtown Tunnel under the South Branch of the Elizabeth River into Norfolk...
, the Downtown Tunnel and the Berkley Bridge were rebuilt and expanded. Tolls were also removed from the Midtown and Downtown tunnels at that time.
In the westbound lane of US Route 58 right before the tunnel's entry, there is an HOV lane that spans a total of 25 yards (until its removal during construction in 2007). There is some speculation that this might be the shortest HOV lane in the United States, and possibly the world.
2003: Hurricane Isabel
In September, 2003, the Midtown Tunnel was flooded and seriously damaged by Hurricane IsabelHurricane Isabel
Hurricane Isabel was the costliest and deadliest hurricane in the 2003 Atlantic hurricane season. The ninth named storm, fifth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, Isabel formed near the Cape Verde Islands from a tropical wave on September 6 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean...
. The facility is equipped with floodgates designed for closure to protect it from flooding during extreme weather conditions such as East Coast hurricanes. Managers of the Virginia Department of Transportation
Virginia Department of Transportation
The Virginia Department of Transportation is the agency of state government responsible for transportation in the state of Virginia in the United States. Headquartered in Downtown Richmond, VDOT is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating the roads, bridges and tunnels in the...
(VDOT) failed to adequately test the floodgates and it was later determined they were malfunctioning and could not close. The Midtown Tunnel was closed for an extended repair period, causing traffic problems in the weeks following the damage.
VDOT revamped its operating procedures at all of its tunnels in the wake of the incident. Studies of additional harbor crossings have also gained additional attention since then.
Expansion Plans
An announcement was made in the Summer of 2010 from the Virginia Department of Transportation that a new two-lane tunnel will be constructed parallel to the existing Midtown Tunnel. This project, which is expected to begin in mid-2011, will be jointly managed with the safety revisions of the Downtown Tunnel in Norfolk and the expansion of the Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway in Portsmouth. Tolls will be used to help pay for the project. Lauren Hansen, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Public Affairs Manager for the Hampton Roads area, stated that those tolls are expected to begin in mid-2012 and will be electronic. Construction is expected to be complete in 2016.
Map of the construction plans including the Midtown Tunnel expansion and the MLK Jr. Expressway
