Title
Resolution In Support of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Preferred Design Alternative 2 (Bridge West With Causeway Remaining) for the Route 172 Wythe Creek Road Widening Project
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
Wythe Creek Road is an existing two-lane roadway in the City of Hampton that crosses into the City of Poquoson.
The project will include the widening of Wythe Creek Road to a three-lane undivided highway from Langley Boulevard in Hampton, to just north of Huntlandia Way in the City of Poquoson, for a total distance of 1.68 miles. The project provides a three-lane reversible roadway, with two lanes being operated in the southbound direction in the morning peak hour, and two lanes in the northbound direction in the afternoon peak hour. The center lane will operate as a two-way center left turn lane in the off peak hours. Improvements will include a new signal at the Wythe Creek/Cary’s Chapel intersection, signal modifications at both the Wythe Creek/Voyager Drive and Wythe Creek/Langley Boulevard intersections, curb and gutter, a 10-foot sidewalk/multi-use path on the east side, widening of the causeway and the bridge, traffic safety improvements at the intersections, and a new 1,500' long bridge will be constructed through the causeway area between Hampton and Poquoson, bringing the roadway surface elevation above the 100 year flood plan, and compensating for sea level rise.
In this resolution, VDOT is seeking additional City support for the Department’s recommendation of one specific design feature as approved for the project as a whole via Resolution 16-0415 to encourage the environmental reviewing agencies (e.g., the Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission) to approve a specific design feature: the plan showing the existing causeway, which is currently utilized for vehicle traffic, to remain for use in the proposed plan by bicyclists, pedestrians, and existing utilities.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the winter of 2018.
Discussion:
Resolution 10-0284 was passed on July 14, 2010, approving programming of this project and execution of project agreements.
The City of Poquoson provided a letter of endorsement of this project dated March 11, 2015.
Resolution 16-0415 was passed on December 14, 2016, approving the major design features of the proposed Wythe Creek Road widening project (the “Project”) as presented at the public hearing held on August 13, 2015.
Impact:
Not Applicable
Recommendation:
Rec
Approve Resolution
Body
WHEREAS, on December 14, 2016, the Council of the City of Hampton adopted Resolution 16-0415 which approved the major design features of the proposed Wythe Creek Road widening project (the “Project”) as presented at the public hearing held on August13, 2015;
WHEREAS, the Project is vital to the City of Hampton (the “City”) and its citizens because it improves capacity on the currently congested facility in front of the NASA Langley Research Center;
WHEREAS, the Project provides regional benefits by improving the secondary evacuation route for the City of Poquoson during tidal storm events;
WHEREAS, the Project design features include retention of the existing causeway for pedestrian and bicycle use;
WHEREAS, those design features also include construction of a new bridge on the westerly side of the causeway;
WHEREAS, use of the causeway for pedestrians and bicyclists provide the greatest separation from vehicular traffic and the safest alternative for the citizens and visitors of Hampton;
WHEREAS, alternative designs eliminating the causeway or relocating the bridge are cost prohibitive and would cause the Project to be eliminated or indefinitely delayed; and
WHEREAS, alternative designs eliminating the causeway would decrease pedestrian and bicycle safety and increase the potential for citizen property loss.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia that the design currently proposed and approved by Resolution 16-0415 is strongly endorsed; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia encourages the Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, and other reviewing agencies to approve those design features.