THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 20, 1997 TAG: 9702200049
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 27 lines
The Hampton Roads Planning District Commission on Wednesday delayed voting on adding HOV lanes to Interstate 64 on the Peninsula to examine design details for entering and exiting express lanes safely.
While the planning body did not object to the High Occupancy Vehicle lane concept, some members had concerns about how motorists can safely enter and exit the lanes from large interchanges like Interstate 664 and at Jefferson Avenue.
A consultant will address these issues at the March 19 meeting.
The consulting firm of Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas Inc. recommended building HOV lanes along nine miles of Interstate 64. The HOV lanes would mirror those on the Southside, with designated lanes reserved for cars with two or more passengers during peak travel times.
Southside motorists traveling to the Peninsula can expect to see a 50 percent increase in traffic on the interstate over the next 20 years.
Work is underway now to widen some sections of the interstate from four to six lanes. The HOV plan would bring the total number of lanes to eight from Interstate 664 to the Route 143, Jefferson Avenue exit.
The project would cost about $27 million.