New courthouse opens for business

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - The new Portsmouth Courthouse along Port Centre Parkway opened for business on Sept. 24.

It took more  than two years and $78 million to complete the project.

The new, state-of-the-art facility on Port Centre Parkway is more than 200,000 square feet. It houses three separate courts.
    
While still under construction, 10 On Your Side began investigating lack of security concerns . But in July, Portsmouth Sheriff Bill Watson told WAVY.com he's since been able to hire 20 more deputies to ease those worries.

Officials also say they will have plenty of parking. Day-to-day business at the Crawford Street location halted earlier this month.

Decades of history have been moved into the new complex. The records, dating back to 1858, had to be transferred and preserved in the new structure.

In August, Portsmouth City Council agreed to have the old courthouse and civic center demolished. The plan is to redevelop the area for commercial and possibly residential use.    
    
The new court complex is located along Port Centre Parkway, leading up to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.