04:27 PM EDT on Friday, April 29, 2005

WVEC.com

VDOT says it is closing the Midtown Tunnel this weekend to lay 5000 tons of asphalt pavement. The tunnel will be closed at 5:30 a.m. Saturday and is scheduled to reopen before rush hour Monday morning.

According to VDOT, the work is part of the Pinners Point Project in Portsmouth and completion depends on the weather. By paving and milling the stretch of Route 58 beginning at the tunnel entrance and extending westward, VDOT hopes to allow crews to switch traffic onto the new pavement and move the Pinners Point project one step closer to the summer completion date.

"By closing the Midtown Tunnel, we can pave and stripe the road more quickly and safely to minimize the inconvenience to motorists," said K.W. Rawls, Pinners Point project inspector. "If we had to work around traffic, this critical work would take at least a week and would involve two to three major lane shifts."

While the tunnel is closed for paving, crews will complete several maintenance operations as well, including tide gate testing, light bulb replacement, electrical upgrades, and drain cleaning. "We recognize that any tunnel closure is inconvenient to motorists. Our goal is to perform as much maintenance as we can while the tunnel is closed so that we don't have to plan to close it again in the near future," said Bill Collier, Elizabeth River Tunnels facility manager.

Detour signs will direct motorists to the Downtown Tunnel. Motorists are also encouraged to use the Jordan Bridge as an alternate route while the Midtown Tunnel is closed.

When finished, the Pinners Point Interchange will link Portsmouth's Western Freeway with the Portsmouth Marine Terminal and the Midtown Tunnel. The project will also add new traffic cameras to help manage congestion. The project is expected to open this summer.

The following detours will be in place while the Midtown Tunnel is closed:

From Ghent and Hampton Blvd.

Follow DETOUR signs to Brambleton Avenue going into Downtown Norfolk. Turn RIGHT on St. Paul's Blvd. immediately past SCOPE, and then follow the sings for I 264 West, over the Berkley Bridge and through the Downtown Tunnel to Portsmouth. Exiting the tunnel, take the first exit to Effingham Street, straight to Effingham Street, turn RIGHT on Effingham Street, and proceed to London Blvd. Turn LEFT on London Blvd., Follow London Blvd. until it intersects with Martin Luther King Freeway. Martin Luther King Freeway is the Portsmouth terminus to the Midtown Tunnel.

From Port Norfolk (City of Portsmouth)

Follow DETOUR signs from Chautauqua Avenue, turn RIGHT on Commerce Street, turn LEFT on Mt. Vernon Avenue, turn LEFT on London Blvd. Proceed along London Blvd. to Effingham Street (McDonald's), and turn RIGHT on Effingham Street. Proceed along Effingham Street, turn LEFT to I 264 East and the Downtown Tunnel. Go through the Downtown Tunnel and over the Berkley Bridge. Take the Downtown Norfolk/St. Paul's Blvd. exit. Turn RIGHT on St. Paul's Blvd., proceed to Brambleton Avenue (Scope on the corner). Turn LEFT on Brambleton Avenue. Follow Brambleton Avenue until it intersects with Hampton Blvd., at the Norfolk terminus of the Midtown Tunnel.

Alternate Port Norfolk Follow DETOUR signs from Virginia Avenue, turn LEFT on High Street. Proceed along High Street, then RIGHT on Effingham Street, turn LEFT to I 264 East and the Downtown Tunnel. Go through the Downtown Tunnel and over the Berkley Bridge. Take the Downtown Norfolk/St. Paul's Blvd. exit. Turn RIGHT on St. Paul's Blvd. proceed to Brambleton Avenue (Scope on the corner). Turn LEFT on Brambleton Avenue. Follow Brambleton Avenue until it intersects with Hampton Blvd., at the Norfolk terminus of the Midtown Tunnel.

From Midtown Portsmouth

Take London Blvd. or High Street east or towards Downtown to the intersection of Effingham Street. Turn RIGHT on Effingham Street, turn LEFT to I 264 East and the Downtown Tunnel. Go through the Downtown Tunnel and over the Berkley Bridge. Take the Downtown Norfolk/St. Paul's Blvd. exit. Turn RIGHT on St. Paul's Blvd. proceed to Brambleton Avenue (Scope on the corner). Turn LEFT on Brambleton Avenue until it intersects with Hampton Blvd., at the Norfolk terminus of the Midtown Tunnel.