The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, March 22, 1996                 TAG: 9603220005
SECTION: FRONT                    PAGE: A16  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   25 lines

TUNNEL SCARE

I recently had the misfortune of traveling through the Midtown Tunnel. It is now one of my least-favorite sections of Hampton Roads highway.

The tunnel walls were so dirty and the light so dim that I had trouble seeing an oncoming vehicle less than 50 feet away (and I have 20/20 vision).

It was scary, almost causing me to reflexively jerk the steering wheel, which would have caused my vehicle and the tunnel wall to meet.

At both ends of the tunnel are additional amber lights that make it very easy to see. Could these lights be installed throughout the tunnel? Also, a good scrub-down would help!

RICHARD EDWARDS

Virginia Beach, March 13, 1996 by CNB