NORFOLK (AP) -- Crews are still working to repair a water pump malfunction in the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel that created heavy traffic congestion across Hampton Roads Thursday.
Both lanes of I-64W were closed at 6:30 a.m.following a malfunction of a water pump underneath the mouth of the Hampton side of the tunnel. Four inches of water was standing in the tube.

“It was really bad,” said one man who waited for hours.

As drivers detoured to avoid the HRBT, traffic was backing up at the other bridges and tunnels that could get travelers to the Peninsula.

Congestion at the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel on I-664 North was heavy all day and got worse mid-afternoon when a multi-vehicle crash closed the tunnel around 1:45 p.m.

Video: Gridlock across Hampton Roads

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VDOT says a power outage resulting from a severe storm Wednesday night may have caused the pump to malfunction.

VDOT used vacuum trucks to pump out the water; the Hampton Fire Dept. sent as many as four engines to help in the effort.

VDOT re-opened both lanes around 7:30 to allow rush hour congestion to clear.  Officials closed the left lane two hours later, so crews could drain the water main system.

Both lanes will re-open at 9 am Friday.

On Thursday afternoon, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim called on state lawmakers to take a leadership role in solving the region's transportation problem for the 1.3 million people who live in Hampton Roads and the millions who vacation here.

“Today, we were fortunate in that the 90,000 - 100,000 people who use the tunnel daily were simply inconvenienced. We are again in the hurricane season. It is difficult to imagine the possible consequences had this occurred during an evacuation caused by an impending hurricane or major storm," Fraim said in a release.

Gordon Hickey, spokesman for Gov. Tim Kaine, told WVEC.com, "As far as Gov. Kaine is concerned, he (Fraim) is speaking to the choir."

Hickey says the governor has tirelessly pushed for more funding for highway maintenance/construction.

"Blame the Republicans for not understanding that funding is needed," Hickey added.

Democratic candidate for governor Creigh Deeds said, "Hampton Roads residents should be spending more time with their families and less time sitting in traffic. Today's HRBT challenges illustrate the daily struggle of Virginians and the importance of working together to develop a statewide transportation solution.

From Republican candidate Bob McDonnell: "As Governor, a top priority for transportation in Hampton Roads will be to upgrade U.S.Route 460 from Suffolk to Petersburg to a new limited access highway. We must have another major hurricane evacuation route and make it easier to get new businesses into Hampton Roads."

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)