THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, July 1, 1995                 TAG: 9507010452
SECTION: LOCAL                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: NORFOLK                            LENGTH: Short :   45 lines

TRAFFIC WILL BE VERY HEAVY FOR HOLIDAY, OFFICIALS SAY

Motorists be warned: Traffic is going to be terrible this Fourth of July holiday weekend.

State transportation officials in both Virginia and North Carolina are urging beach-bound vacationers to look for alternate routes to their destinations.

The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, the main route used by those heading to Virginia Beach and the Outer Banks, set a record each of the last two Fridays with more than 100,000 vehicles a day.

Virginia officials expect traffic to be much heavier with the holiday weekend.

And Virginia Route 168, which heads to the Outer Banks, is likely to become a two-lane parking lot this weekend.

That is, unless motorists heed warnings and turn to such alternate routes as Interstate 664 and the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel.

Last Friday, 100,900 vehicles used the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. The previous Friday, 100,700 vehicles crossed the span, marking the first time it had ever eclipsed 100,000. And those weren't holidays.

Officials from the state Department of Transportation are just about guaranteeing that motorists will save time this weekend by using the Monitor Merrimac span, even though that route is 17 miles longer.

The alternate route could be especially helpful to motorists bound for the Outer Banks, since it allows them to exit onto U.S. Route 17 rather than the perennially jammed Route 168.

This holiday weekend, Route 168 should be more congested than normal because North Carolina is working on widening its section of the highway.

Outer Banks vacationers using I-664 can take Exit 292 from I-64 in Chesapeake. This will put motorists onto Route 17 southbound toward North Carolina. Blue-and-white ``To the Outer Banks'' signs then guide motorist along the alternate route.

For traffic conditions at Hampton Roads-area bridges, motorists can call 1-800-792-2800. by CNB