THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 31, 1995 TAG: 9505310459
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 44 lines
Although local transportation officials are unsure what to expect on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway after the tolls are removed, there are alternate routes should jams develop.
The most obvious is Virginia Beach Boulevard, which runs parallel to Route 44 for nearly the entire length.
Commuters coming from Norfolk Naval Base down Interstate 64 to Route 44 can exit instead onto Northampton Boulevard and take that road to Independence Boulevard, which was recently widened.
And if things get real weird, East Ocean View Avenue and Shore Drive offer a route from Norfolk nearly to the Oceanfront.
Don DeIulio, operations director for Metro Traffic Norfolk, said: ``. . . all in all, I think we have to wait and see what happens. But I especially don't think people should get paranoid. If people just don't follow too close, everything should be fine.''
Virginia Beach police plan no additional patrols.
The toll plaza will be transformed beginning at 12:01 a.m. Thursday. Construction crews expect to have the entire facility razed in about two weeks.
Crews will begin turning off the electricity for the coin collectors and removing the rented toll equipment tonight. At 12:01 a.m. Friday, crews will begin dismantling the toll canopy, according to Andy Barnard, project coordinator. ILLUSTRATION: Graphic
KEN WRIGHT/Staff
Expressway tolls end after midnight tonight. Now you can...
Quit yer pitchin'
[For complete graphic, please see microfilm]
KEYWORDS: TOLLS REMOVAL by CNB