VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) – The next time you drive down Atlantic Avenue at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, near the newly-renovated Cavalier Hotel, you’ll notice some changes.
The long time intersection of Atlantic and Pacific Avenue is no more.
It’s all part of a realignment approved by City Council in 2017, at request of Bruce Thompson, CEO of Gold Key|PHR.
Since July 2019, crews have been working to to remove the intersection in front of his Cavalier Hotel. Under the plan, Atlantic Avenue would instead end in a cul-de-sac in front of a new oceanfront Marriott Hotel.
Thompson said the road closure would be necessary as his new development under the old traffic pattern would have created major traffic issues.
Drivers will now use 40th Street to connect between Atlantic and Pacific. Six new parking spaces will be added to Atlantic Avenue North of 40th street as part of the project.
The project has faced criticism and several setbacks. After two failed attempts to secure state funding for the project, Thompson agreed to fund the majority of the project on his own.
The city shelled out $245,000 for the design. An additional nearly $400,000 was spent late last year to relocate a water line and sewer line that the former interim city manager said “previously weren’t seen as conflicts.”
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