HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — Changes are coming to Coliseum Drive, where 80 percent of the city’s retail is located.
Previously, city council approved to start a project to extend Coliseum Drive from Hampton Roads Center Parkway to Butler Farm Road
“What you’re doing is your connecting that retail with business opportunities in Hampton Roads Center business parks,” said Robin McCormick, a communication strategist with the City of Hampton.
McCormick says this first phase is already funded mostly by state and federal funds and is expected to cost somewhere around $4.5 million.
“We’re going to ask for bids sometime this fall probably,” said McCormick.
City council will now ask for more funds from the state and federal government for phase two, which would extend Coliseum Drive further from Butler Farm Road to Nettles Lane, and then connect to Magruder Blvd. at North Campus Parkway.
This would connect Coliseum Drive to an area that is mostly vacant to spur economic development.
“The economic development authority owns 95 acres right there, it’s about a mile from the interstate. It’s in a really good location so we think having that route to all the amenities will help land a large business that would affect not just Hampton, but the regional economy,” McCormick said.
It could take years to start the building process of phase two.
