VDOT to close Monitor-Merrimac for work

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (WAVY) - From VDOT

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will close the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel northbound lanes, towards Newport News on Friday, Mar. 23, 2012. The northbound lanes will close at 8 p.m. and reopen by 6 a.m. on Monday, Mar. 26.

Crews will repair the concrete slabs inside the northbound tubes, as well as make repairs to the expansion and contraction joints. Specifically, crews will remove the asphalt on top of the concrete slabs at the approach to the tunnel, make repairs to the joints at the northbound tube entrance and the northbound tube exit. Southbound work will begin upon completion of the northbound lanes. On all four open cut sections, crews will remove the asphalt and repair concrete slabs, and then clean the joints, re-seal, repave and stripe the roadway. The first phase of the project will take up to eight full weekend closures in order for crews to complete both tubes of the MMMBT facility.

VDOT has initiated an aggressive public awareness campaign, including print ads, traffic sponsorships on local radio stations, billboards on I-664 north and I-64 east and westbound, interstate routes, and on-line banner announcements. The public awareness campaign began March 18, and will run until the project is complete.

In February, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) awarded a contract in the amount of $3.6 million to Virginia Paving to complete this work by August 2012 . Crews will have a detour in place for motorists who need to travel in this area during the closure. The detours will be as follows:

MMMBT Northbound Closure:

• From Route 58 east approaching I-664 north (Bowers Hill), motorists must exit onto I-264 east, towards the Downtown Tunnel. Motorists will follow I-264 east to I-64 west, towards the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. The detour will end at I-664, Hampton Coliseum.
• From I-664 North approaching College Drive, crews will place an inside lane closure and reroute traffic back on to I-664 south, towards Bowers Hill. From I-664 south motorists will take I-264 East (towards the Downtown Tunnel); to I-64 West (towards the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel); end of detour at I-664 (Hampton Coliseum)

Motorists are encouraged to visit www.511virginia.org , call 511 or listen to Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) 610 AM or call the Traffic Information Line at 757-361-3016 for current traffic and travel information.

For additional project information, please visit:

http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/hamptonroads/monitor-merrimac_memorial_bridge-tunnel_joint_repair.asp