Chesapeake wants to build a railroad crossing overpass in South Norfolk
CHESAPEAKE — City leaders are pursuing grant funding from the state to build an overpass bridge for the Norfolk Portsmouth Beltline Railroad on Freeman Avenue in South Norfolk.
At its meeting this week, the Chesapeake City Council passed a resolution to apply for funding through Virginia Department of Transportation's Revenue Sharing Program for the project. The rail passing is nestled between Harris Street and Republic Road.
The project would replace the existing at-grade railroad crossing with an overpass bridge and include associated roadway realignments and improvements.
Local transportation experts have been studying traffic disruptions caused by trains across Hampton Roads in an effort to recommend solutions. The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization collected data on more than 600 railway crossings across the region to prioritize improvements and new overpasses and underpasses projects to ease traffic congestion.
The organization scored 307 public, at-grade crossings for prioritization based on several factors, including traffic and train volumes, delays, safety and roadway characteristics. The Freeman Avenue crossing came in at number 11 on the list. Norfolk railroad crossings occupied the top five spots on the list, including on Hampton Avenue at Terminal Boulevard and on Granby Street near Ward's Corner.
Chesapeake has the most crossings in the region at 122, including 98 at-grade crossings, according to the HRTPO.
The Freeman Avenue overpass project will feature two 12-foot lanes at a speed of 35 mph. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities won't be included, but 8-foot shoulders are proposed accommodations.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, the council approved an action to acquire rights-of-way in the area required to construct the project. Construction is scheduled for the spring of 2028 and expected to span until late 2030.
The city has prioritized the project as it currently has $22.5 million of funding in the city's multi-year Capital Improvement Plan in the fiscal budget, including $10.2 million from the Federal Rail Administration. An additional $24.5 million will be needed in future years, for a projected total of $47 million.
The city's application for funding from VDOT requests $10 million, and if received, the city would match that — likely through bonds financed by the South Norfolk Tax Increment Financing district, according to a memo from city staff.
Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@virginiamedia.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Plainfield's second budget vote results: What happened?
Even with a total reduction of $800,000, all three questions on the ballot for the Town of Plainfield's budget vote failed to pass again at the referendum vote June 2. This is the second time all three questions failed to pass at the ballot box. The majority of voters opposed all three questions at the referendum May 19. At the budget vote June 2, the proposed $14,320,593 operating budget failed, with 563 yes votes and 717 no votes. The revised operating budget was $320,000 less than the proposed budget for the May 19 referendum, which was $14,640,593. The proposed education budget was $39,327,822, a reduction of $480,00 from the May 19 budget failed June 2, with 625 yes votes and 654 no votes. The proposed education budget at the referendum was down from the $39,807,822 that was proposed for education at the budget vote May 19. The town's Capital Improvement Plan for the next and ensuing five years also failed June 2, with 562 yes votes and 701 no votes. 'I think it's probably still a little too high,' Don Kivela, of Plainfield, said regarding the town's budget. In addition to the questions on the proposed operating and education budgets as well as the Capital Improvement Plan, there was a non-binding advisory question on the ballot for the June 2 election. The question asked voters if they were in favor of having a proposed municipal solid waste to energy plant in Plainfield. The vast majority were opposed to the project, as 125 voted yes and 1,148 voted no. The public hearing on the revised budget will take place June 9 in the auditorium at Plainfield High School. The next budget referendum will be held June 16. The town is working out a polling place, as work to replace the entrance ramp at Plainfield Town Hall begins June 3. Polls will be open from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Plainfield's second round of budgets fail at the ballot box
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Virginia State Police seek driver in Windsor power pole collision
WINDSOR, Va. (WAVY) — Virginia State Police is asking for help in locating a driver who struck a power pole in Windsor on Thursday night and fled the scene. State police responded to a vehicle crash in the 27000 block of Colosse Road at approximately 10:50 p.m. Upon arrival, the trooper discovered an abandoned 2006 Ford F150, which had hit a power pole, in a ditch. Active power lines were spread across the roadway. Dominion Power was called to the scene. Virginia Department of Transportation established detours around Colosse Road. State police are attempting to locate the owner and driver of the vehicle at this time. If anyone may be familiar with this vehicle or the current owner of the vehicle, call (804) 750-8789. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
Chesapeake wants to build a railroad crossing overpass in South Norfolk
CHESAPEAKE — City leaders are pursuing grant funding from the state to build an overpass bridge for the Norfolk Portsmouth Beltline Railroad on Freeman Avenue in South Norfolk. At its meeting this week, the Chesapeake City Council passed a resolution to apply for funding through Virginia Department of Transportation's Revenue Sharing Program for the project. The rail passing is nestled between Harris Street and Republic Road. The project would replace the existing at-grade railroad crossing with an overpass bridge and include associated roadway realignments and improvements. Local transportation experts have been studying traffic disruptions caused by trains across Hampton Roads in an effort to recommend solutions. The Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization collected data on more than 600 railway crossings across the region to prioritize improvements and new overpasses and underpasses projects to ease traffic congestion. The organization scored 307 public, at-grade crossings for prioritization based on several factors, including traffic and train volumes, delays, safety and roadway characteristics. The Freeman Avenue crossing came in at number 11 on the list. Norfolk railroad crossings occupied the top five spots on the list, including on Hampton Avenue at Terminal Boulevard and on Granby Street near Ward's Corner. Chesapeake has the most crossings in the region at 122, including 98 at-grade crossings, according to the HRTPO. The Freeman Avenue overpass project will feature two 12-foot lanes at a speed of 35 mph. Pedestrian and bicycle facilities won't be included, but 8-foot shoulders are proposed accommodations. Also at Tuesday's meeting, the council approved an action to acquire rights-of-way in the area required to construct the project. Construction is scheduled for the spring of 2028 and expected to span until late 2030. The city has prioritized the project as it currently has $22.5 million of funding in the city's multi-year Capital Improvement Plan in the fiscal budget, including $10.2 million from the Federal Rail Administration. An additional $24.5 million will be needed in future years, for a projected total of $47 million. The city's application for funding from VDOT requests $10 million, and if received, the city would match that — likely through bonds financed by the South Norfolk Tax Increment Financing district, according to a memo from city staff. Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133,
