THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607200342
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: 121 lines
For the next 3 1/2 years, life in the city's largest retail and commercial hub will be disrupted while a stretch of Military Highway undergoes a $40 million face lift.
The heavily traveled, 1 1/2-mile corridor will be widened to eight lanes in most sections, and the aging bridge over Virginia Beach Boulevard will be demolished and replaced.
Because the area is important to the economic vitality of the city, the Virginia Department of Transportation and Norfolk officials are taking extra precautions to make traveling the road as hassle-free as possible.
Still, many local merchants fear the construction will drive away customers that could result in double-digit sales losses.
``Anytime you interfere with that amount of traffic, it's not going to be a happy occasion,'' said Diane O'Brien, manager of Janaf Shopping Center. ``If you're traveling down Military Highway and get stuck in traffic, how many times will you come back?''
The work is necessary to ease congestion and to handle the 40 percent to 60 percent growth in traffic expected by 2010. About 63,000 vehicles now travel the highway daily.
Work began in May to move underground utilities along the 1 1/2-mile stretch. Construction on the road surface will begin in the fall.
``The rebuilding of Military Highway is essential to the future economic growth and well-being of this important business and residential corridor,'' Mayor Paul D. Fraim said.
The highway will be widened from six lanes to 10 lanes between Interstate 264 and Poplar Hall Drive and from four to eight lanes from Poplar Hall Drive to Lowery Road.
The bridge and cloverleaf at Virginia Beach Boulevard, which was built in 1939 will be razed and rebuilt. It's the oldest existing cloverleaf in Virginia and is in dire need of replacement. Only vehicles that weigh less than 34 tons are allowed on the bridge.
It will be replaced with what is known as an urban interchange, which is characterized by straight ramps that bring traffic to a light. It will be the state's third urban interchange. There is one in Richmond and one in Hampton at Magruder Boulevard and Hampton Roads Center Parkway.
``It's one of those scenarios where everybody realizes it's much needed but nobody wants to go through the actual pain of getting it,'' said Bill Mann, of the Norfolk Development Office. ``It's like everyone wants the baby but doesn't want the pain of labor.''
Some business owners along the corridor said they will be in plenty of pain, enough to result in a 20 percent drop in sales.
``If the city does not deliver what it's promised, it's going to be a disaster,'' said Amos Berkovich, franchise owner of International House of Pancakes at Military Highway and Raby Road. ``With the bad publicity we've had about crime in the area, we can't afford any more losses.''
But Berkovich is trying to remain optimistic and is looking forward to a new and improved Military Highway when it's completed in September 1999.
``In a way, I look at it as an investment: You've got to go down in order to go up.''
``I really dread to see this start. It will really hurt us. It's already hard to turn in here as it is,'' said Marinel Wright, bridal consultant Tiffany's Bridal and Formal at Best Square.
Residents will also be affected.
``People don't realize the stress that this is going to put on them,'' said Joshua Paige, president of the Poplar Hall Civic League. The subdivision has 786 homes. ``I'm concerned that people need to take seriously what is about to happen.''
Transportation officials are aware of the hardships and are taking steps to lessen the impact.
There will be at least two lanes of traffic in each direction during daytime hours.
Whenever an access to a business is blocked, a temporary one will be created as close to the original access point as possible. New accesses will be clearly marked.
No lane closures will be allowed between the Thanksgiving and New Years holidays, the core of the holiday shopping season.
The contractor will meet with affected businesses before work begins in front of their shops.
Temporary street lighting will be installed.
The city has designated an on-site representative who will be housed in a trailer and will be available for questions and to help solve problems.
The speed limit on Military Highway will be reduced to 35 miles per hour.
``Yes, this is going to inconvenience a lot of folks,'' said P. Denis Gribok, Virginia Department of Transportation resident engineer. ``We are going to do our best to keep it to a minimum.''
In the meantime, businesses are bracing by planning marketing and advertising campaigns to retain their regular customers. Some businesses have joined forces and formed the Military Alliance to deal with the widening project well as other mutual concerns.
Military Circle Mall hopes that its on-going $12 million renovation will entice shoppers to brave the obstacles.
``We'll be a brand new mall inside and out . . . so people will still come,'' said Michael Boden, assistant property manager. Even so, the mall expects a ``slight, temporary drop in sales'' during road construction, he said.
``We're excited about the (road) project,'' Boden said. ``It needs to be done.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photos by Vicki Cronis\The Virginian-Pilot
Amos Berkovich is the franchise owner of International House of
Pancakes at Military Highway and Raby Road.
Color Photo
[Traffic on Military Highway]
This picture has been electronically compressed to illustrate
traffic congestion on Military Highway.
Graphic by VP
Area Shown
Side Bar
Widening Details
VDOT Hot Line
If you have questions about the project, call 494-2472. The city's
on-site representive is Warren Perry, 664-7312.
For complete copy, see microfilm
KEYWORDS: ROAD CONSTRUCTION MILITARY HIGHWAY by CNB