THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 5, 1997 TAG: 9702050009
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 38 lines
Hampton Roads is ready for a regional effort to promote our underwater traffic tunnels. World Almanac statistics confirm that we live in the vehicular-tunnel capital of the world. Our next closest competitor is the entire country of Holland with 7 tunnels to our 9: Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel - 2; Downtown Tunnel - 2; Midtown Tunnel - 1; Monitor-Merrimac - 2; and Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel - 2.
This is a tourist card we have yet to play. It could, for example, preempt outside attempts to malign us like the one two years ago by Atlantic City. Recall how they publicized the erstwhile summer constipation on the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel to divert tourists to New Jersey.
Recently, several customers at the bookstore where I work have asked for information on our submarine automobile tunnels. I had to tell them, as far as I could determine, nothing exists except the pamphlet on the construction of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. This appears to be a tourist attraction to things we not only take for granted but sometimes even grouse about. One customer even wanted something to send to relatives in Pennsylvania who wanted to vacation here because they had heard so much about our tunnels and wanted to experience them!
We should brag about our marvelous tunnels, not complain about them. Our regional tourist office should at least publish a colorful tourist brochure touting our tunnels. This might turn a perceived liability into a real asset by extolling our tunnels' virtues and illustrating the latest in submarine transportation technology.
It could also graphically show the various convenient routes tourists (and we locals) can use when navigating our water-blessed region, and it would promote regional unity by making us all aware how modern underwater tunnels tie the cities and counties of Hampton Roads together.
ALBERT P. BURCKARD
Carrollton, Jan. 22, 1997