Midtown Tunnel

The active P3 project is comprised of a new two-lane immersed tube tunnel under the Elizabeth River adjacent to the existing Midtown Tunnel and interchanges on both the Norfolk and Portsmouth sides; maintenance and safety improvements to the existing Midtown Tunnel; maintenance and safety improvements to the two existing Downtown Tunnels; and an extension of the MLK Expressway from London Boulevard to Interstate 264 (I-264).

The new tunnel will provide two travel lanes in the westbound direction, allowing the existing Midtown Tunnel to be converted to accommodate two travel lanes in the eastbound direction. Currently, daily congestion is a problem at the existing Midtown Tunnel in both the morning and evening peak hours, with traffic back-ups frequently extending into West Ghent on the Norfolk side and to Pinners Point on the Portsmouth side.

The MLK Expressway Extension area currently lacks adequate north-south controlled access between the Midtown Tunnel and I-264, which forces traffic, including large trucks, onto local streets that do not have the capacity to carry current and projected traffic volumes. The proposed MLK extension will provide improved highway system linkage and continuity, and reduce through traffic and related congestion on local streets. $1,460,000,000 value.