DATE: Tuesday, July 15, 1997                TAG: 9707150093

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY DEBBIE MESSINA, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   81 lines

BRIDGE-TUNNEL THAT LINKS PORTS IS URGED

A bridge and tunnel linking the region's three ports as well as a proposed fourth marine terminal is the leading choice of transportation planners for a new crossing between South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula.

Two committees will recommend that the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission on Wednesday endorse a $2.4 billion option, known as corridor No. 9. That corridor links Norfolk International Terminals with Portsmouth and Newport News Marine Terminals as well as the site of a possible new port at Craney Island in Portsmouth.

``Number 9 provides the most benefits, it helps the ports and it can be built in segments,'' said Arthur L. Collins, executive director of the Planning District Commission.

A new crossing linking South Hampton Roads and the Peninsula is seen as a way to alleviate traffic tie-ups that threaten to choke the region's economy.

``We could end up with separate economies,'' Collins said. ``If you can't make that trip, the opportunities, the labor supply are going to be diminished. Access to education and medical facilities will be limited.

``We will evolve as two smaller, separate regions rather than one large community.''

The two committees, a technical committee of the Planning District Commission and the coordinating committee of the Hampton Roads Crossing Study, have worked closely with a consultant in finding solutions to traffic congestion at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.

The Hampton Roads Crossing Study consultant has whittled down 11 options to two - No. 9 and No. 1. Option No. 1 parallels the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel at a cost of $1.5 billion. Michael Baker Corp. will release its final recommendation on Wednesday.

Another option is to do nothing.

``In 25 years of working on transportation projects, I don't think I've ever worked on one where a build option was more critical,'' said Philip A. Shucet, project manager for Michael Baker Corp.

``Your area has to have something to increase the opportunity for mobility across that water,'' Shucet warned.

Rush hour and weekend bottlenecks are commonplace at the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel. If nothing is done, projections show that traffic would be stalled around-the-clock by 2015.

The original 11 options can be broken down in three corridors: parallel to Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel, parallel to the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel, and parallel to the Monitor-Merrimac with an eastern spur to Craney Island and Norfolk International Terminals.

No. 9 is in the last category. It is favored primarily because it links the ports. It also will help divert truck traffic from Hampton Boulevard in Norfolk and from the Midtown Tunnel between Norfolk and Portsmouth.

And because it can be built in usable stages, it would provide more immediate traffic relief and would be more palatable financially.

While some federal and state money is expected, a large portion of the costs could be paid using tolls and increased gas and sales taxes.

A possible funding plan introduced last month includes a $1-to-$2 toll on all the crossings, including the Hampton Roads and Monitor-Merrimac bridge-tunnels and the James River Bridge.

While traffic flow across the water is not yet at crisis proportions, transportation experts say it's essential to plan now.

``We're talking about something that's going to be built a good 15 years out into the future,'' Shucet said. ``And it's going to have to last the area a good, long time.''

Which is why each of the options includes six lanes - two in each direction and two multi-modal lanes for carpools, buses or passenger rail.

``Depending on what ultimately runs in the multi-modal lanes, you can get the equivalent of three to 50 regular lanes of traffic,'' Shucet said.

The regional planning body is expected to decide on Wednesday whether to build another bridge-tunnel and where to build it. The Commonwealth Transportation Board will vote on the proposal in September. If approved, a detailed study, including financing methods, would be prepared.

``If we are to survive, we've got to provide this,'' Collins said.

``As we transition from a military economy and ship-building economy to something else that's more transportation-dependent, like ports and tourism. . region.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color Map

Preferred Corridor

For complete copy, see microfilm KEYWORDS: PROPOSED BRIDGE TUNNEL

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