DATE: Friday, June 20, 1997                 TAG: 9706200735

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY KENNAN NEWBOLD, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   45 lines

CHAMBER PICKS A TUNNEL, PREDICTS ECONOMIC BENEFIT

The Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce announced Thursday its choice for a third connection between South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula.

The chamber is endorsing the corridor that would run east of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, curve around Craney Island in Portsmouth and end near Norfolk International Terminal and Terminal Boulevard in Norfolk.

The $2.1 billion option, the chamber said, would bring the most economic development to the ports and alleviate the industrial traffic bound for the region's marine terminals.

``It is our opinion that the most important thing this does is it gives industry access to the Southside, meaning it allows them to go directly to the ports,'' said Jim Hopkins, vice chairman of governmental affairs for the chamber.

The Hampton Roads Chamber Regional Board's Executive Committee had 11 options to consider. It unanimously voted to support the route at its June 11 meeting.

Hopkins said the route ``has a leg at Craney Island that runs south to Portsmouth, which offers Portsmouth an opportunity that is just tremendous.''

Other features the chamber cites as attractive to businesses:

A three-tube crossing, with two tubes carrying automobile traffic and a third for intermodal transportation, such as light rail.

A new connection to Craney Island, the possible location of a fourth marine terminal.

Improved access from Norfolk Naval Base to Portsmouth Naval Hospital, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard and the Naval Supply Center.

The chamber's decision is good news for the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission.

``We are encouraging everyone to make their views known,'' Arthur L. Collins, executive director of the regional planning body, said Thursday. ``We're delighted that they have considered the issue and are making a recommendation.''

On Wednesday, Hampton Roads planners heard recommendations for financing the third crossing. Tolls may be proposed for the two existing bridge-tunnels, in combination with increases in the state sales tax and gasoline tax. ILLUSTRATION: Map

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu