Light rail redo at two crossings

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Ingleside Civic League president Phillip Hawkins pointed out a rut with his shoe, along the light rail tracks that run in front of his home. He is less than thrilled that his neighborhood is about to be inconvenienced again.

Starting Tuesday, crews will rip out the light rail crossing at Ingleside and Mississippi and replace it. The same will happen at the Bristol and Curlew Dr crossing. WAVY.com learned the concrete panels settled, causing the tracks to move.

It's the same problem that happened at the intersection of 2nd Street, which WAVY.com reported in May. Upon that discovery, HRT reviewed ten crossings along the 7.4 mile line. Officials found Bristol and Ingleside were not up to standards.

"If somebody told me they built a 7.4 mile light rail anywhere in the world and didn't have to go back and re-do something I'd say you've got a bad project because nothing is that perfect," said HRT CEO Phil Shucet during a May interview about the 2nd Street crossing.

In a perfect world, Hawkins and his neighbors would like this to be finished. The crossing is the only way in and out to 70 homes. During construction last year, residents maneuvered on a one way temporary road for months. For the next few weeks, they'll have to do that again.

"You had to let one person come in and someone coming up some of them had to back up and let them come through and vice versa. It was kind of a nightmare," said Hawkins.

Construction is expected to begin at 6 a.m. and last until 10 p.m. for the next several weeks. WAVY.com learned it will cost $100,000 to repair each crossing. The money will come from a contingency fund and will not add to the total cost of the project.