Wards Corner Civic League

All continuous closures for the I-64 Reversible Express Lane ramps to I-64 west and from I-64 east to reopen, and high-occupancy tolling to resume in both directions

Starting as early as Monday, Oct. 28, contractor crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are scheduled to reopen the multiweek closures impacting the I-64 Reversible Express Lanes in Norfolk between I-264 and I-564. The continuous single-lane closure on the I-64 west general purpose lanes off-ramp to I-564 west remains in place through late fall.

These closures were implemented to facilitate the completion of essential roadway activities and bridge widening as part of construction for the first phase of the Hampton Roads Express Lanes (HREL) Norfolk Segment.

The previous long-term closures that will reopen starting as early as Oct. 28 include:

• the continuous single lane closure in both directions of the Reversible Express Lanes between just west of Tidewater Drive (exit 277) and east of I-564/Granby Street (exit 276)
• the I-64 general purpose lanes access to and from the Norfolk Reversible Express Lanes, with the reopening of the westbound Express Lanes exit ramp to the I-64 west mainline (toward the HRBT) and the entrance ramp from the I-64 east mainline to the eastbound Reversible Express Lanes

Along with these closures being lifted, all westbound tolls will be reinstated for solo drivers using the Norfolk Reversible Express Lanes to travel to I-564 or I-64 west toward the HRBT. Vehicles with two or more occupants and an E-ZPass Flex transponder switched to “HOV-ON” may use the Express Lanes toll-free.

Additional short-term closures within the Reversible Express Lanes remain ongoing during non-peak hours. This construction work is weather and schedule-dependent; therefore, this schedule is subject to change.

This work is part of the first phase of HREL Norfolk Segment construction projects, that started in summer 2023 and includes the conversion of the existing inside shoulder along I-64 into a high-occupancy tolled, part-time shoulder Express Lane running alongside the three existing general purpose lanes between Patrol Road and Tidewater Drive for a total of 2 miles, as well as the widening and rehabilitation of several existing bridges on I-64.

This HREL Norfolk Segment will ultimately become a part of an overall continuous 45-mile high-occupancy toll Express Lanes network on I-64, from west of Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News to the I-264/I-664 Bowers Hill interchange in Chesapeake. As traffic demand continues to increase in the region, incorporating the Express Lanes dynamic tolling model, together with other interstate improvements, provides an additional approach to managing congestion in the long term and providing more travel choices and a reliable travel network for Hampton Roads motorists. For more information on the Hampton Roads Express Lanes projects and to learn more about construction updates, traffic impacts and to sign-up to receive project updates, visit 64expresslanes.org.

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Fall is a great time of year to clean out closets and declutter those dusty garages and sheds. While you may uncover some surprising treats, it can be tricky to properly dispose items such as hazardous household waste, electronics and plastics. 

There’s no need to be scared! Just put those items in the car and bring them to Keep Norfolk Beautiful’s Special Waste Collection Event on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 9 a.m. to noon at Azalea Baptist Church (3314 E. Little Creek Rd). 

This drive-through and drop-off event offers Norfolk residents the opportunity to properly dispose plastics, electronics/e-waste and household hazardous waste (HHW) such as paint, batteries, pesticides, cooking and automotive oils, propane tanks and more, free of charge. Proof of residency is required. 

Click HERE for a comprehensive list of items accepted at this event.

Residents can also bring personal documents for secure, on-site shredding. Plus, Friends of Norfolk’s Environment will be giving away trees to residents with proof of address while supplies last. 

Special thanks to Azalea Baptist Church for hosting this event and our partners from SPSA Norfolk Transfer Station, Goodwill Hampton Roads, Shred-It, City of Norfolk Waste Management for providing services and volunteers from Keep Norfolk Beautiful, Norfolk CERT and Camellia Shores Civic League for helping on site. 

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The next community meeting for Creating an Enhanced Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center (NFWC) will occur on October 30^th at NFWC.  Details are attached to this flyer.

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Norfolk Police will host its biggest Trunk or Treat since the pandemic, Thursday, October 31^st (Halloween) at Scope on the Plaza (outside) from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.! The big trucks of public safety, public health and public transportation will be featured, amid incredible treats for kids of all ages, and tricks that will surprise the greatest Halloween fan!

Norfolk Police encourage all to come to enjoy the Mermaid City’s safest Halloween Trunk or Treat! This year community-corporate sponsors from 7-11 to Mission BBQ, Target, Starbucks and more, will show their appreciation to you with treats you won’t soon forget.

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Early voting us underway at the Office of Elections located in City Hall. City staff report that the morning hours have proven to be the busiest and encourage voters to consider coming in the afternoon to avoid parking issues and delays. 

In addition to regular early voting hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., residents can also cast ballots on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Saturday, Nov. 2, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

If City Hall is not convenient, satellite voting locations will open on Thursday, Oct. 24. 

Those locations are: 

• Berkley Recreation Center, 121 W. Liberty St.
• Jordan-Newby Anchor Branch Library, 1425 Norchester Ave.
• Lambert’s Point Community Center, 1251 W. 42nd St.
• Mary D. Pretlow Anchor Branch Library, 111 W. Ocean View Ave.

Satellite location hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Sunday, Oct. 27, which will be noon to 4 p.m.

Get all of the details at www.norfolk.gov/elections.

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The presentation made by the city’s selected design-build firm for the NFWC reconstruction has been posted here: https://www.norfolk.gov/DocumentCenter/View/90554/24_0815—Norfolk-Rec—Library-Public-Meeting

This presentation includes the outdoor and indoor space plans that were shown at our September civic league meeting. Questions on the building can be directed to the city architect; questions on programming should be directed to Parks & Rec or Norfolk Public Library.

More information on this large city project can be found at https://www.norfolk.gov/6280/Norfolk-Fitness-and-Wellness-Center.

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Please see the attached Fall 2024 operating schedules for Norfolk’s indoor pools. Lifeguard staffing has increased significantly over the past year and the city is now able to open these pools more days of the week.

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Norfolk’s Tree Commission invites city residents and business associates to their annual Arbor Day event held on 10/12 at Lafayette Park. The Tree Commission, in partnership with Norfolk Master Gardeners, is giving away approximately 500 trees to Norfolk’s residents in an effort to increase our tree canopy. They are also providing activities for children and adults at a variety of booths on the premises. The event begins at 10:00am and ends at 2pm with the exception of the Norfolk Master Gardeners’ plant sale, which concludes at 4pm. Please refer to the QR code on the below flyer for more details.

Let’s work together to improve our city through the benefit of trees!  Looking forward to seeing you there!

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Primary traffic impacts include full closures of the I-64 Reversible Express Lanes ramps to I-64 west and from I-64 east near the I-564 interchange through mid-fall

Starting the week of Sept. 9, through mid-fall, contractor crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are scheduled to implement multiweek closures impacting the I-64 Reversible Express Lanes in Norfolk, located between I-264 and I-564, to facilitate the completion of essential roadway activities and bridge widening as part of construction for the first phase of the Hampton Roads Express Lane (HREL) Norfolk Segment.

Estimated to begin as early as 5 a.m. on Sept. 9, traffic will be impacted as follows for approximately 7 weeks:

• A continuous single lane closure will be in place for both directions of the Reversible Express Lanes between just west of Tidewater Drive (exit 277) and east of I-564/Granby Street (exit 276). 

Traveling I-64 West:

• The Reversible Express Lanes westbound exit ramp to the I-64 west mainline will be closed at the I-564 interchange, prohibiting all westbound Express Lanes traffic from exiting to the I-64 west general purpose lanes.

• As a result, all motorists traveling the westbound Reversible Express Lanes MUST exit to I-564 during this closure. All westbound traffic on I-64 in Norfolk traveling to the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT) must use the mainline general purpose lanes during this closure.

• All westbound tolls will be lifted for the Reversible Express Lanes in Norfolk to help mitigate further congestion as a result of this closure for both the Express Lanes and general purpose lanes for this peak travel time. While the dynamic, high occupancy tolling system is typically used to manage traffic flow to ensure a reliable trip in the Express Lanes, proactively lifting tolls during these closures allows more motorists traveling to I-564 to utilize the Express Lanes, helping relieve additional pressure on the general purpose lanes. Although this may increase traffic volume in the Express Lanes and impact travel time reliability, this temporary measure provides motorists an additional route option during this period of construction

Traveling I-64 East:

• The Reversible Express Lanes entrance from the I-64 east general purpose lanes near Granby Street (exit 276) will be closed.

I-564:

• During this multiweek closure of the I-64 Reversible Express Lanes, access to and from I-564 will be maintained, including:
• The Reversible Express Lanes westbound exit ramp to I-564 west will remain open during the morning commute when the reversible lanes are running westbound.
• The Reversible Express Lanes eastbound entrance ramp from I-564 east will remain open for the afternoon commute when the reversible lanes are open eastbound, with high-occupancy tolling operations in place for solo drivers and toll-free for those traveling with two or more occupants with the E-ZPass Flex transponder.

To expedite the bridge widening activities at this location and minimize the overall duration of the traffic impacts at this interchange, the contractor is also scheduled to implement a continuous single-lane closure on the I-64 west general purpose lanes off-ramp to I-564 west for several weeks, starting as early as the week of Oct. 7. While this closure is scheduled to overlap with the Express Lanes closures at this interchange, doing this work concurrently will allow the contractor to reduce the duration for the I-564 ramp lane reduction by nearly 10 weeks.

Additional short-term closures within the Reversible Express Lanes also remain ongoing during non-peak hours. This construction work is weather and schedule-dependent; therefore, this schedule is subject to change.

Before hitting the road, motorists should use VDOT’s free 511 Virginia traffic tools or the free 511-integrated Waze GPS app to check for the most up-to-date road and travel conditions. VDOT’s 511Virginia.org website and mobile app offer information about construction, traffic, incidents, and congestion, as well as access to traffic cameras, weather-related impacts and more.

This work is part of the first phase of HREL Norfolk Segment construction projects, that started in summer 2023 and includes the conversion of the existing inside shoulder along I-64 into a high-occupancy tolled, part-time shoulder Express Lane running alongside the three existing general purpose lanes between Patrol Road and Tidewater Drive for a total of 2 miles, as well as the widening and rehabilitation of several existing bridges on I-64.

This HREL Norfolk Segment will ultimately become a part of an overall continuous 45-mile high-occupancy toll Express Lanes network on I-64, from west of Denbigh Boulevard in Newport News to the I-264/I-664 Bowers Hill interchange in Chesapeake. As traffic demand continues to increase in the region, incorporating the Express Lanes dynamic tolling model, together with other interstate improvements, provides an additional approach to managing congestion in the long term and providing more travel choices and a reliable travel network for Hampton Roads motorists. For more information on the Hampton Roads Express Lanes projects and to learn more about construction updates, traffic impacts and to sign-up to receive project updates, visit 64expresslanes.org.

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