THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 19, 1995 TAG: 9511180288
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 15 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
LENGTH: Long : 113 lines
Every day, thousands of motorists take to the roads in Chesapeake on their way to other Hampton Roads destinations. And vice versa.
Members of the staff of The Clipper traveled some busy routes to see what they were like.
Interstate 464
The commute from Great Bridge to Downtown Norfolk via Interstate 464 is a Jekyll-and-Hyde experience.
On days with good weather, the trip is an easy, breezy affair, with motorists zipping into Downtown Norfolk, sidestepping Virginia Beach-bound traffic and traveling across the Berkley Bridge.
On a recent sunny Wednesday morning, leaving Great Bridge at 8:35 a.m., the drive into Norfolk was so easy and quick it almost seemed unreal. Time of arrival? 8:50 a.m.
But, oh, how nasty weather can turn a sweet experience into a nightmare.
What was a pussy cat of a route the day before was a veritable snarling beast, with traffic backed all the way to the Poindexter Street exit.
What took only 15 to 20 minutes in light traffic took a half-hour to 45 minutes on that terrible Tuesday.
The route is simple enough: Battlefield Boulevard to I-64 West, then exit 291-A, I-464 North, to Norfolk.
That dumps you into the Portsmouth Tunnel or onto the Berkley Bridge, which splits its traffic off to the Virginia Beach Expressway or into downtown.
It seems simple enough, but like a classic game of dominos, all it takes is for one route to clog. That eventually backs up everything.
The commute back to Chesapeake is a little more constant, though always crowded and sometimes plagued by bumper-to-bumper traffic.
The cause of the trouble is usually a clogged exit to I-64 East, heading toward Virginia Beach, which is undergoing massive construction.
One way to avoid this, though, is to take the Military Highway exit off 464. Travel north on Military Highway for a couple of miles, and then hook right onto Battlefield Boulevard. Steer your car to the far left lane, avoiding traffic pouring onto Battlefield from I-64.
You'll still be in a crowded traffic situation, but it moves and will eventually get you home.
- Eric Feber
Interstate 664
The commute from Great Bridge to Newport News would be perfect were it not for two things: state troopers and the absence of convenience stores and fast-food restaurants for coffee and biscuits.
Although the trek to the Peninsula is a long one, it's not nearly as congested as other Hampton Roads interstates during the a.m. drive time. In fact, while traveling I-664 to the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, my speedometer never dipped below 55 mph.
But it's clear to anyone making the 30-plus mile journey that traveling at speeds in excess of 65 mph is a bit of a risk.
If you don't spot at least one trooper between Dock Landing Road and the tunnel, you're just not paying attention.
As for the commute back to Chesapeake, somehow it seemed much longer. Again, the interstate was free from the bumper-to-bumper backups of other area routes, but the long stretch of pavement between the tunnel and the Battlefield Boulevard South exit tried my patience. Maybe it's the commute in the dark, or the weariness after a day's work, but the absence of congestion didn't make up for the extra mileage of the trip.
A bit of advice for I-664 commuters: Watch the lead foot, and be sure to get your coffee before hitting the road. And enjoy the mild traffic while you can. It can't last forever.
- Jennifer O'Donnell
Kempsville and Witch Duck roads
It just goes to show that you shouldn't make assumptions.
For devoted interstate users, the idea of commuting from Chesapeake to Virginia Beach via Kempsville and Witch Duck roads fills one with dread. The stoplights. The stop-and-go traffic. The frustrating driver going 30 mph.
The reality was it couldn't have been easier. The only snags were from packed left-turn lanes, which backed up traffic behind.
The journey began at rush hour, 5:15, a full moon hanging above.
For the most part, other drivers cooperated by going 35 to 40 mph , a bit under the posted speed limit of 45. As I passed Centerville Turnpike, an extra lane opened up. Dutifully, the slower drivers stuck to the right side.
Eventually traffic lightened. The maximum speed limit was approached, attained and even exceeded to a small degree.
By 5:42 p.m., I was home free.
While it took a little bit longer than the interstate, using this route was a breeze. And it seemed safer. No cars going 75 trying to run you into another lane. No pesky merging. No construction.
If you decided to forgo the highways, just pray for luck. If you get behind someone who's just out for a leisurely, 30 mph drive, you're in trouble.
- Julie Goodrich
South Battlefield Boulevard, Great Bridge Boulevard and Campostella Road
I tried this route for a week, from my home in Great Bridge to downtown Norfolk. My hat goes off to Chesapeake residents who travel it 52 weeks a year.
It is grueling.
Getting across the swing bridge at Great Bridge is a tough enough task for one morning. You either cross it 10 minutes before the hour or 10 minutes after, because it opens on the hour.
Great Bridge Boulevard is no easy proposition. For three miles, it's a two-lane road, which doesn't give faster motorists an opportunity to pass slower ones.
On Campostella Road, traffic thins out until South Military Highway, where a slow traffic signal often creates a backup on Campostella.
The most dangerous intersection I saw was where Campostella crossed Providence Road. Motorists competed to get to two gas stations, a 7-Eleven and a middle school. Some shot through the 7-Eleven parking lot to avoid traffic; others just ran the light.
With much of Campostella a two-lane road, motorists are at each other's mercy for courtesy and safe driving. There wasn't much of either to go around during tense rush hours, particularly on rainy days.
I saw at least one obscene gesture during my weeklong experiment.
My advice to those who use the road: Be patient. by CNB