30-05-2025
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,
