VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Starting Wednesday, drivers will use the first asphalt lanes that are part of the $150 million Laskin Road bridge replacement and widening project that began in fall 2019, and has a new targeted date for completion of spring 2024.
VDOT has set out an advisory that “two new asphalt lanes will head west and will be shifted to the right onto the newly widened roadway, allowing crews to continue roadway construction on the existing eastbound lanes. Alternating, single-lane closure will be in place starting as early as 7 a.m. until noon to help crews’ safety implement the shift.”
Basically, two roads — one heading west, and one heading east, and no turns in between, which means a lot of U-turns.
VDOT spokesperson Tim Kelley also addressed the updated completion date for the project:
Please report the new finish date for Laskin Road widening. What is the date? It was to be spring 2023, then spring 2024. Now it’s looking like 2025. Is that true. What is the new completion date?
While the project’s contract completion date currently remains set for spring 2024, previous utility issues may still have the potential to delay the completion of the project again. The Department continues to work closely with the contractor to try to mitigate any delays and to support them as needed to ensure they achieve project milestones and deliver a quality project for the region. This includes daily collaboration among VDOT staff including, field staff and designers, with the contractor to discuss current project activities and progress. If VDOT determines a change in the contract completion date is warranted, the department will provide an update to inform stakeholders. The project’s contract completion date currently remains set for spring 2024. If VDOT determines a change in the contract completion date is warranted, the department will provide an update to inform stakeholders.
What is the reason for the new delay?
See previous answer.
What will take place next with the lane shifts on Laskin?
For details on the traffic shift, here is a link to the traffic alert that was sent out last week: https://conta.cc/3TkTK8q.
You can see new pavement markings for new lane changes on Laskin Road.
There will be no left turns into the Virginia Beach Community Chapel or Norfolk Christian’s Lower School, both greatly impacted, along with the Linkhorn Bay Condominiums.
“We are just going to put it on our Facebook page and send an email for our congregation to make sure they will have to go down to Winwood Drive to make a U-turn if they are coming from the Oceanfront,” said Virginia Beach Community Chapel senior pastor Robb Esperat.
It’s just the opposite coming or going at Linkhorn Bay Condominiums.
If you are heading east trying to get to the condos, you have to drive by the condominiums and then make a U-turn at Cardinal Road and double back to the condominiums heading west and to all places on that side of Laskin Road.
“It has certainly been frustrating at times,” Esperat said. “It’s hardship, but we are going to worship Jesus whether there are traffic complications or not.”
“Here is the bottom line. If I’m going west, then I’m heading east to turn,” said Laskin Road businessperson Frank Malbon, who has been living with Laskin Road construction for more than four years.
For now, he will no longer be able to make a left turn out of his business to head west and has to head east to go to Cardinal Road and do a U-turn to then head west.
“I think the price of progress is fine when it’s finished,” Malbon said, “but it has taken an awful long time and it’s inconvenienced a lot of people.”