Wards Corner Civic League

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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Hourigan has asked us to inform all of you about the upcoming demolition of the former Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center located at 100, 110, 150, and 160 Kingsley Lane. Demolition is scheduled to begin on Monday, August 26, 2024, and is expected to be completed in early fall of 2025. Their notice and demolition phasing plan are located in the attachment. 

They understand that construction can be disruptive, and the Hourigan Team is committed to minimizing any inconvenience caused during the demolition process. They will be implementing a comprehensive plan to control dust, debris, and noise, prioritizing the safety and well-being of the surrounding neighborhood.

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The Existing Conditions Assessment document is now available!  Click here to access the document.

This report outlines some major findings from a citywide existing conditions assessment conducted in the Winter and Spring of 2024 as part of the NFK2050 Comprehensive Plan update. This assessment sets the stage for the visioning phase (Phase 2) of work on NFK2050 and includes an emphasis on how Norfolk has changed and evolved since the last comprehensive plan adoption in 2013. Using this document and all community engagement and outreach as our foundation, the City and its residents will chart our collective course for the future. From there, the project team will draft detailed and implementable actions tied to specific timeframes and partners in order to build a framework for Norfolk to achieve even greater heights by 2050.

For more information on the NFK2050 Comprehensive Planning process, project timeline, community engagement and outreach to date, and other information, please visit the project website: http://www.nfk2050.com/

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From May-June, the NFK2050 team kicked off the second phase of NFK2050, “Visioning,” with a series of interactive open houses around the City. These open houses were designed to engage Norfolk residents and stakeholders around the NFK2050 Comprehensive Plan. The activities from these open houses are now available online through August 25!

Click here to take the survey

The survey includes a map where you can show us areas of the City that need improvements regarding the following topic areas: 

• Housing
• Jobs & Businesses
• Parks & Trails
• Social Places
• Transit and Connections

There will also be a space where you can elaborate on your location choices.

This survey also provides an opportunity for you to answer specific questions on the following Plan Pillars:

• Celebrating Our Community
• Growing Equitably 
• Embracing Nature
• Connecting the City

We welcome all kinds of comments and thoughts; supportive, dissenting, critical or otherwise, as long as they are made in the spirit of constructive and civilized dialogue. We ask that you avoid personal attacks or any information that may compromise one’s privacy or security.

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The City of Norfolk implements the Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s Know Your Zone program. Whether the decision is voluntary or mandatory, be sure to listen to Norfolk officials who will determine the best course of action. If an evacuation notice is issued, information will be distributed through all City of Norfolk messaging channels.

Steps to Take Now

• Know Your Zone: Find your evacuation zone. If you need assistance, please call Norfolk CARES at 757-664-6510.
• Know Where You Will Go: The best place to evacuate is the safest place closest to home, preferably with family or friends. Use the evacuation map to identify places you could go. If needed, emergency shelters will be open, but these are bare minimum facilities, so be prepared to bring what you need.
• Sign Up To Be Notified: Norfolk will use all available means to notify people of an evacuation, but the best way to get the message is to register for the City’s notification system, Norfolk Alert. Registering ensures that you are notified directly in the way you prefer and receive updates after the storm has passed.
• Obtain Flood Insurance: Homeowners insurance does not cover flood damage from natural disasters. Visit FloodSmart for more information.
• Read the Virginia Hurricane Evacuation Guide (PDF)
• Secure Your Home (tie down outdoor furniture, remove debris, trim branches/trees, clean drain system, move vehicles to higher ground)
• Create an emergency supply kit

Two Types of Evacuation

• Mandatory Evacuation: Are just that; you must evacuate. If you choose to stay, you do so at your own risk. Should you choose to stay, please keep in mind emergency responders may or may not be able to get to you due to the conditions at the time.
• Voluntary Evacuation: Citizen may choose to leave at any time when voluntary evacuations are ordered or when they feel it necessary.

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