Light coming to 264/64 interchange

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Four years ago, the 264/64 interchange went dark. That's when VDOT took down 28 aging light poles. They never went back up.

"Well it's really dark and it's hard to see the lines when you're driving towards the beach," said driver Dana Cohen.

"I have a hard time with it, because I'm nearsighted," added driver Zoe Hernandez. "I wear glasses and you can't see anything on the highway."

The plan from the beginning was to put new poles where the old ones once stood.

"They were 25 to 30 years old," said VDOT's Lauren Hansen. "They needed to be removed and replaced."

Four years and some funding issues later, the interchange is still dark. The ride for drivers at times can be hairy.

"I prefer to drive during the day and not at night," Hernandez said. "It is scary. I have a four and a half old daughter, so I can't just worry about my safety, but the safety of her."

"Additional lighting is always an extra added safety feature for intersections like the 264/64," Hansen added. "It is hazardous, because of all the lanes that are merging at that point and additional lighting is beneficial."

VDOT says that additional lighting is in the works. The plan is to start putting up new lights at the interchange early in 2012.

"Right now we are through the design phase and we are ready to start construction," Hansen said.

Construction is scheduled to start on the new light by the end of 2011.