New lift schedule for Berkley Bridge

NORFOLK, Va. - "It helps me to know how to pace my own time, when to get here, and when to leave," said Elizabeth Elder about the Berkley Bridge's new lift schedule, which goes in place later this month.

The bridge will open at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. weekdays for waterway traffic.

Anyone who's ever used the bridge knows that lifts can sometimes snarl vehicular traffic for miles and last any number of minutes. VDOT's Dwayne Cook told WAVY.com the new lift schedule will help maritime traffic and drivers alike. "With the closure of the Jordan Bridge, the Gilmerton Bridge project, we've seen an increase in traffic at the Downtown Tunnel. During the day, about a third of the traffic that traverses the bridge happens between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. That's also the same time we experience the most amount of lifts," he said.

The plan is seen as a way to ease traffic congestion. Other drivers, however, aren't as confident in the decision. John Hughes told WAVY.com, " I guess I'll be going through the Midtown. I'll just go a different way, go down 664."

VDOT hopes to have signs up and start lifting the Berkley Bridge on its new schedule October 19. The bridge connects the Downtown Tunnel with Portsmouth and Norfolk. About a 100,000 vehicles use the bridge on weekdays.

The Coast Guard has issued the following deviation for drawbridge opening:

The Fifth Coast Guard District commander has issued a temporary deviation from the regulation governing the operating schedule of the Berkley Bridge across the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River at Norfolk, Va., at the request of the Virginia Department of Transportation today.

This deviation will evaluate a change in the drawbridge's operating schedule to determine whether a permanent schedule change is needed.

The temporary deviation will be in effect from Oct. 9, 2009, through March 9, 2010. During this time, the drawbridge will open to vessels requesting passage at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. At all other times, the bridge will operate as scheduled. A Notice of Proposed Rule Making for a 3-year deviation plan lasting until Oct. 5, 2012 is also being considered.

The Virginia Department of Transportation will have signs in place before Oct. 24, 2009 alerting maritime traffic of these new regulations. Beginning Monday, Oct. 19, motorists should prepare for scheduled stops at the I-264/I-464 Berkley Bridge at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except federal holidays. The duration of the traffic stops will be dependent on the volume of maritime traffic.