Sorry for missing this when it was originally posted!
The last update on the Official Twitter feed for the #LESNERBRIDGE was in January though.
Category Archives: City Government
Concern about the need to change the current property tax exemptions for Seniors & Disabled in Virginia Beach
From Empsy:
City Council,
I am concerned about the need to change the current property tax exemptions for Seniors and Disabled in Virginia Beach due to the program being unsustainable due to COST. I found the THREE modifications posted on Virtual Town Hall equally unacceptable as did all THREE of the other comments I was able to view on the site.
I received one call from my Cape Story by the Sea email send from a senior citizen who was very upset about the proposal and the impact it would have on her fixed income and unable to understand HOW Va Beach could not do better money management to sustain the program.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the City Council, I too have difficulty in believing the program can not be sustained. Please consider the following:
1. DO NOT compare Virginia Beach with the other 6 cities of tidewater because NONE off the other six cities have an OCEAN and the tourist traffic of Va Beach. Recent article indicated “Virginia Beach dining, lodging sales near (a RECORD) $1.4 BILLION” and Jim Ricketts expects 2015 to hit another record. Surely there is income here that could support the property tax exemptions and the NEED to INCREASE the tax rate for the rest of us.2. The health care costs to the city employees was noted as being one the fastest increasing costs of the city in a recent Budget presentation by Councilman Wood at the SDCC meeting.
Consider a City owned and operated PBM- Pharmacy Benefits Management – company as CHESAPEAKE has done and saved considerable money. As a fellow pharmacist with Ed Davidson (the Consultant Pharmacist for the City of Virginia Beach), I would encourage the Council to discuss this opportunity with Dr. Davidson and your healthcare management departments. This should stabilize and possibly decrease expense to the City for employee healthcare.3. The military in Virginia Beach brings in $13 Million (or is it Billion) that is currently used in budget planning I believe even with constant discussion that this may /will decrease if/when the military cuts back/moves out. BUT, the HIGH MILITARY income is STILL HERE AND STRONG in the 37 YEARS I have lived in Virginia Beach.
I believe the Great City of Virginia Beach can sustain the current property tax exemptions and the current tax rate on property. I believe the City of Virginia Beach is unique and comparison with the other six cities of Tidewater has very LIMITED benefits when comparing tax base, tax income and potential for tax income.
Thank you.
Empsy Munden – Cape Story by the Sea – Virginia Beach
Learn more by viewing Virtual Town Hall info below
PLEASE NOTE:
Both Virtual Town Halls posted below have been closed.
Please provide your feedback in Comments below and/or Email City Council here.
View first Official Virtual Town Hall VBGOV.com website on this Topic entitled:
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The City of Virginia Beach currently offers qualified property owners the ability to receive one of 3 forms of relief (Exemption, Deferral or Freeze), towards their real estate tax bill. To ensure City Council receives the best possible recommendations, please complete this survey.
You can view 122 Responses by the public, video presentation by Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled Taskforce, Demographics of respondents, final tally, and more.
Next steps lie with City Council as they consider the information and the recommendations of the Taskforce.
View 2nd Official Virtual Town Hall VBGOV.com website on this Topic entitled:
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The City Council is considering three alternatives to changing the tax-relief program for senior citizens and the elderly. Which alternative do you prefer, and why?
You can view 44 Responses by the public, and more.
NOTE: City Council will be voting on proposed alternatives at their March 3 2015 Meeting.
Introduction
A tax-relief program that reduces or eliminates real estate taxes for some Virginia Beach senior citizens is not financially sustainable. That’s the conclusion of a city task force that reported recently to the City Council.
Now, the City Council is exploring ways to change the program – to continue keeping low-income seniors in their homes while managing the program’s skyrocketing costs.
The City Council has come up with three options, which are summarized here. The council wants to hear from you. A public hearing was scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 6 p.m. However, the hearing was cancelled due to inclement weather and has been rescheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 24 in the City Council chamber in City Hall, second floor, 2401 Courthouse Drive. City Council is still scheduled to vote on program changes March 3. For more information, contact the city’s Budget Office at (757) 385-8234 or budget@VBgov.com.
Virginia Beach has the most generous tax-relief program for seniors in Hampton Roads.
View Final Report by Tax Relief for the Elderly & Disabled Taskforce here. ( 102 page PDF )
PLEASE NOTE:
Both Virtual Town Halls posted above have been closed.
Please provide your feedback in Comments below and/or Email City Council here.
“The City of Virginia Beach Office of Cultural Affairs is dedicated to supporting and strengthening a rich arts and cultural community. Please help us shape the future of the arts and culture by providing us feedback through this survey.”
Start here at the official Town Hall page at VBGov.com.
Your input will help us understand community priorities related both directly and indirectly to arts and culture, and help to direct priorities for cultural investment and development. Play a part in shaping the vision of the Virginia Beach Arts Plan 2030 by completing this survey!
3 questions in Survey include:
Arts, culture and creativity in Virginia Beach increase quality of life and livability.
Arts, culture and creativity in Virginia Beach represent our diverse communities.
By the year 2030, what are the top 3 things you would like to see for Virginia Beach’s arts, cultural and creative community? (Please select up to 3 options from the list.)
Photo Credit: Tim Solanic
“Help Hampton Roads Create a Hazard Mitigation Plan”
Three Public Meetings Scheduled Throughout the Region – view at VBGov.com.
Federal law requires localities to adopt hazard mitigation plans to be eligible for certain federal mitigation grant funds. It requires that these plans be updated every five years. Hampton Roads localities will pursue a regional, multi-jurisdictional plan.
Public involvement is a key component.
unexpected damage at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp from Sandy Oct 2012
Virginia Beach City Offices and Facilities to Open at 10 a.m. Wednesday
All City of Virginia Beach offices and facilities will open tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 10 a.m. That includes all parks, recreation centers, libraries and the Virginia Aquarium. City-run historic homes will remain closed Wednesday. There will be no trash or recycle pickups on Wednesday.
The city’s essential operating condition will continue until 10 a.m. Wednesday. At that time, the city will resume normal operating conditions.
Crews from Public Works will continue working to clear streets throughout the night and throughout the day tomorrow.
City of Virginia Beach CANCELS Waste Pickup for Wednesday, Feb 18
Due to the anticipated hazardous road and weather conditions, Public Works/Waste Management has CANCELLED trash and recycling collections for Wednesday. Residents are asked to place their trash cans at the curb line and leave them there until they are serviced. Those residents with small amounts of trash, or extra carts, may wish to skip collection this week, and have all materials collected the following week.
Collections will resume as soon as conditions allow, and will operate on a sliding basis. Tuesday collection area will be collected on the first day collections are resumed, and continuing each collection area as needed to complete collections for the week.
Yard debris collection has been suspended for the remainder of the week. Additional requests for bulky item collection will be re-scheduled for next week. The Virginia Beach Landfill and Resource Recovery Center will follow the City of Virginia Beach operating hours.
For updates about collections, call Public Works Waste Management at 385-4650 or visit www.VBgov.com/wastemgt.
“All City of Virginia Beach offices and facilities will be closed today, Tuesday, Feb. 17. That includes all city parks, recreation centers, libraries and museums. As a reminder, no sledding is allowed at Mount Trashmore Park.”
Drivers should not be out on the roads, if at all possible, to allow emergency vehicles to do their jobs.
Photo credit: Tim Solanic
“Once collections have resumed, residents will be asked to place their black trash can and blue recycling carts at the curb line on their regular collection day and leave them there until they are serviced. Yard debris collection has been suspended for the remainder of the week. Additional requests for bulky item collection will be re-scheduled for next week.”
Virginia Beach Cancels Waste Pickup for Tuesday, Feb 17
Photo credit: cyclist Cindy L.
“The Virginia Beach City Council will hold a two-day goal-setting retreat on Feb. 5 and 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the new Brock Environmental Center at Pleasure House Point, 3663 Marlin Bay Drive. The meeting is open to the public.”
Mark your calendars.
Have issues you are concerned with re: Shore Drive community?
Reasons to attend:
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Retreat is in our backyard
You get to experience the inside of the Brock Center
Amazing views looking out over Pleasure House Point & the Lynnhaven
You’ll learn what City Council believes are the hottest topics for COVB
Familiar with the 2029 Strategic Plan for Virginia Beach?
View the PDF of the 2029 Strategic Plan at VBGov.com. (51 page PDF)
And for those who do not use Facebook, the COVB Official Facebook page now sports an image of the Brock Environmental Center. View it here while the photo is still there.

“The city of Virginia Beach launched two free mobile apps designed to make information even more accessible and provide residents the capability to submit service requests via their mobile devices.”
VB Connect, is a portal app that provides access to all official City of Virginia Beach mobile applications. Here, citizens and visitors can find city news, photos, hot topics, city job vacancies, contact information, and more. Residents can even find apps
And:
The VB Works app, which is now available and is powered by SeeClick Fix, enables citizens to submit service requests such as pothole repairs, traffic light problems, or bulky item pick-ups directly from their mobile devices. When submitting issues via the mobile app, residents can provide locational, descriptive, and photographic information as they see the issue in real time.
#LESNERBRIDGE lane closures today
From COVB Public Works Press Release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT:
January 19, 2015 Drew Lankford, (757) 385-8062
(757) 409-4353
dlankfor@vbgov.comTemporary Daytime Lane Reductions on Lesner Bridge on Tuesday
Virginia Beach Public Works has announced that there will be single lane closures on Lesner Bridge tomorrow morning, Tuesday, January 20, 2015, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3p.m.
The lane closures will be on both eastbound and westbound Shore Drive between Vista Circle and East Stratford Street.
Crews will be restoring the faded temporary pavement markings in these areas.
For additional information, contact Chris Wojtowicz at cwojtowi@vbgov.com, or (757) 385-4131.
Screen shot of bridge construction cam at 7am this morning.
“Virginia Beach HAS NOT Been Suspended From Flood Insurance Program”
On Dec. 10, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region 3 office sent a letter to Virginia Beach Mayor William D. Sessoms, Jr., confirming that Virginia Beach was in compliance with the flood insurance program. In addition, the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) confirms that Virginia Beach is in compliance with all requirements of the program, and will not be suspended.
#LESNERBRIDGE Update from Project Manager – “Faded pavement markings”…
January 15 2014 Update:
Friends:
As we bask in the cold, damp, drizzly, foggy, chilly, London-type weather, while watching moss grow everywhere, we have been receiving some inquiries about some pavement problems that need to be addressed on the Lesner Bridge project.
Below is the latest information from Chris Wojtowicz, our project manager. Please give this a look when you have the time, and feel free to let Chris or me know if you have any questions or need more information.
As a reminder, we are regularly updating information on our WEB page at: http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/public-works/roadways/Pages/lesner-bridge-7-14.aspx .
You can also follow us on Twitter at: @lesnerbridge.
If you know of someone who would like to be added to our update list, please have them get in touch with me at this e-mail address and I will be glad to add them.
Please feel free to pass this along to others. Thanks again for all of your patience throughout this project.
Thanks for all your questions and comments – and patience. Enjoy your weekend, and please stay warm and be safe.
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach
dlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353To All:
This Lesner Bridge project update is to bring you all up to speed on the status of addressing several pavement issues on Shore Drive within the bridge project limits. We have been receiving a number of phone calls, texts, and emails regarding the faded temporary pavement markings on westbound Shore Drive just past the Page Avenue intersection, as well as the bump on eastbound Shore Drive at the Vista Circle intersection.
1) The “Bump”: A request for estimate and schedule has been submitted to a paving contractor. This estimate is due to the City no later than tomorrow, 1/16/2015. The estimate is based on the milling of the asphalt that is causing this bump in the eastbound outside lane for Shore Drive at the Vista Circle intersection and then replacing this asphalt with up to 2” of surface asphalt to match the elevation of the existing concrete pavement and eliminate the elevation difference that is causing the bump.
2) Faded Pavement Markings: We are very aware of the faded pavement markings along Shore Drive, both eastbound and westbound, and between East Stratford Street and Vista Circle/Page Avenue. We have attempted three times to replace these markings, but due to the wet weather and cold temperatures we have had to delay this maintenance work. Once we get a day where the pavement temperature is 50°F and rising, as well as dry, we will replace these painted temporary markings with a more durable thermoplastic marking. We will also place raised reflective pavement makers to help delineate the travel and turn lanes during wet weather and nighttime driving.
Once we have a definite schedule for this work, we will send out a news release announcing the date and times for the lane closures required to perform this work.
We appreciate your patience on these issues as we navigate through this period of cold and wet – typical coastal VIRGINIA – weather.
Thanks Again,
-Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, P.E.
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Municipal Center-Bldg 2
2405 Court House Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Phone: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
“Others have suggested making permanent its nickname, the Lynnhaven Inlet Bridge, or bestowing the honor on longtime Vice Mayor Louis Jones, who represents part of the Shore Drive corridor.”
View article at Pilotonline.com:
Voting will be open through the end of February.
The Bayfront Advisory Commission, which advises the City Council on issues pertaining to the Shore Drive and Chesapeake Bay-area communities, is expecting some unique input.
Click to visit website to submit your response.
About Vice Mayor Jones about VBGov.com who has represented Baylake Pines, Chesapeake Beach & Ocean Park neighborhoods for years.
He serves as the City Council liaison to several organizations, including the Water Task Force Committee, the Bayfront Advisory Commission, the Oceana Land Use Conformity Committee, the Pembroke Strategic Growth Area Policy Committee and the Town Center Committee.
About the Bayfront Advisory Committee at VBGOv.com:
The purpose of the Bayfront Advisory Committee (BAC) shall be to serve in an advisory capacity to City Council with respect to development and improvement to the Bayfront area.
“Bayfront Advisory Committee will meet Thursday, Jan. 15 at the Resort and Conference Center, 2800 Shore Drive, from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Subcommittee meetings will be conducted from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and are open to the public to observe.”
There will be an opportunity for presentations from the public on other projects in the Bayfront area. The Committee generally concludes its deliberations around 4:30 p.m. The meeting is then opened to the public for comments.
#LESNERBRIDGE update from Project Manager – “The City will be addressing bump on eastbound Shore Drive, located in the outside lane at the Vista Circle intersection . . .”
HOORAY FOR FIXING BUMP!
Ahem.
January 9 2015 UPDATE:
Friends:
I hope that all of you have had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. Now it’s back to work and back to our Lesner Bridge Project updates!
The cold temperatures and blustery winds aren’t helping, but work on the new westbound (WB) bridge and temporary bulkhead began again this past Monday (1/5/2015) after the holiday break. Also, form work for the first bridge segments have been assembled at the casting yard in Portsmouth (Atlantic Metrocast Inc. next to the Jordan Bridge). The steel reinforcement on several of the new bridge segments have been tied and pouring of the first concrete segment will begin in approximately one week (see photo below). [Note: The new Lesner Bridge will have a similar appearance as the Jordan Bridge shown in the background.]
Now some quick notes on the latest construction progress:
Ø Construction of the new bridge abutment “A” located on the west side of the new WB bridge has been completed.
Ø The foundation cap for Pier #1 (first pier located east of Abutment A) has been completed. Steel reinforcement and formwork for the support column that is being built on this cap is now being assembled and will be in place by the end of next week .
Ø The foundation cap for Pier #2 (second pier located east of Abutment A) is now being constructed. Steel reinforcement and formwork for the foundation cap is currently being placed and readied for the scheduled concrete pour on Monday, January 12, 2015.
Ø Installation of drilled shafts at Pier #3 continues. One of the five shafts for this foundation has been completed. Work on the second shaft began on Wednesday (1/07/2015), and will be completed by tomorrow, Saturday the 10th. The remaining drilled shafts for this pier is scheduled to be complete by 1/23/2015.
Ø Work on the WB bridge approach in front of 3556 On the Bay condos (Shore Drive/East Stratford Street) continues. The concrete retaining wall, utilities, and temporary wire wall are all being installed – concurrently – at this location. It is expected that both the temporary wire wall (next to WB Shore Drive) and the new textured concrete retaining wall will be completed by Wednesday of next week (1/14/2015). Once these items are completed, the contractor will begin installing the new 16-inch water main up to the new bridge abutment. Some utility work will be needed in the intersection of East Stratford Street and Shore Drive as part of this new water main tie-in and construction. Once we have a schedule for this this utility work we will send out another update.
Ø Work on the WB bridge approach next to the old Duck-In property (Shore Drive/Page Avenue) also continues. A portion of the concrete footing for the new retaining wall has been poured and the area prepared for the placement of the pre-cast concrete retaining wall panels. The first of these textured concrete retaining wall panels will be installed at this location on or about January 14, 2015.
Ø The developer of the Duck-In site is currently constructing a seawall as part of their new development for the property. Where this private seawall meets the City’s right-of-way, the City will extend the seawall under the new bridges and tie into the existing bulkhead located on the south side of the bridges at the Virginia Pilots Association. The City’s bridge contractor has recently installed a portion of the City’s seawall between the existing WB Lesner bridge and the private seawall. The remainder of the City’s seawall will be installed once both existing bridges are demolished.
Ø As many of you have noticed over the past month there have been several lane closures on westbound Shore Drive between Page Avenue and East Stratford Street. Several of these closures were needed to repair several portions of the temporary concrete barrier service and others were needed to remove the sand that had accumulated on the roadway. We have asked the contractor to provide better notice of these daytime lane closures so that we can better inform you of these events. There was a single lane closure on both eastbound and westbound Shore Drive between Page Avenue and East Stratford Street today between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The bridge contractor was repairing several potholes that have developed on Shore Drive. Time permitting, he was also going to re-stripe the temporary pavement markings that have faded over the past few months.
Ø The City will be addressing bump on eastbound Shore Drive, located in the outside lane at the Vista Circle intersection (just before Starbucks®). We are waiting for the cost estimate from the Public Works annual service contractor so that we can prepare the work order and schedule this work. We expect this estimate sometime next week. We will provide an update of when this work will be performed as soon as we get the schedule from the paving contractor. Essentially, we will mill out the EB portion of the intersection and then overlay with asphalt to match the existing elevation of the concrete turn lane at Vista Circle to remove this bump.
Lastly, the construction of the temporary bulkhead at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site (LDMSS) is nearing completion. All of the concrete cap for this bulkhead will be completed next week. Dredging in front of this temporary bulkhead will likely begin the last week of January and will be coordinated with the City’s annual Crab Creek dredging maintenance contractor.
That’s it for now. Have a great weekend, and please drive safely!
-Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, P.E.
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Municipal Center-Bldg 2
2405 Court House Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Phone: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
Screen shot of construction cam photo taken at 1215 JUL14 2014 12:15pm. The first photo!
“The coalition believes Shore Drive can and needs to be safer for pedestrians and drivers. And what has reinforced that in their minds is the recent death of 53-year-old Kenneth Allen. He died last week after being hit while crossing Shore Drive on foot.”
Coverage including video at WAVY.com.
Williams and Brown believe enforcement could lead to more awareness of pedestrians and crosswalk laws. They said this will be part of the Shore Drive Community Coalition’s safety initiative for the coming year, and they plan on bringing it before the city.
Some residents have also called for continuous sidewalks on Shore Drive and more crosswalks.
View comments and add your own to continue the conversation at WAVY TV story. Or comment below by clicking “LEAVE A COMMENT”.
Sorry, oh all knowing and all seeing benevolent Shore Drive Community Coalition, but you are trying to legislate STUPID.
Reduce the speed limit, they more boldly cross without the cross walk
Put up barriers, they will jump them.
I know this will sound harsh, but it is the Darwin theory in effect.
The stupid and week WILL be culled from the gene pool.
Clearly there can be more down to educate the users of this vital multi-modal thoroughfare.
4 examples, did you know:
§ 46.2-923. How and where pedestrians to cross highways.
When crossing highways, pedestrians shall not carelessly or maliciously interfere with the orderly passage of vehicles. They shall cross, wherever possible, only at intersections or marked crosswalks. Where intersections contain no marked crosswalks, pedestrians shall not be guilty of negligence as a matter of law for crossing at any such intersection or between intersections when crossing by the most direct route.
The governing body of any town or city or the governing body of a county authorized by law to regulate traffic may by ordinance permit pedestrians to cross an intersection diagonally when all traffic entering the intersection has been halted by lights, other traffic control devices, or by a law-enforcement officer.
Source: Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System
§ 46.2-924. Drivers to stop for pedestrians; installation of certain signs; penalty.
A. The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:
1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;
2. At any regular pedestrian crossing included in the prolongation of the lateral boundary lines of the adjacent sidewalk at the end of a block;
3. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.
(contd)
Source: Virginia General Assembly Legislative Information System
Sharing the Road
Drivers share the road with many other users: pedestrians, bicyclists, moped and motorcycle riders, trucks and buses, recreational vehicles and other vehicles of all shapes and sizes. It is your responsibility to adjust your driving to avoid other drivers’ mistakes and assure everyone’s safety.
Source: Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, Section 3: Safe Driving (24 page PDF)
Central to this evaluation will be the understanding that Shore Drive serves as the sole east-west transportation corridor in the City north of the I-264 / Virginia Beach Boulevard corridor. As such, from a land use perspective, it needs to be considered as a multimodal corridor and not solely as a vehicular corridor. Increased densities of development in the corridor demand that pedestrian amenities are more fully addressed in all aspects of the development process, from the rezoning and conditional use permit stage through to the development plan approval and inspection stage. The goal of improving the level of transportation services for a wide variety of users – pedestrians of all types, cyclists, in-line skaters, varied recreational users, transit users, as well as vehicle operators – and the interrelationships between these various users and land uses in an area characterized as being first and foremost as a resort community and not as a resort destination is suggested. Accordingly, both public and private proposed development criteria need to be evaluated from a multimodal perspective to ensure that the needs of these varied users are addressed. Since increasing roadway capacity in the area has strict limits, given the City Council directive that Shore Drive remain a four lane facility for the foreseeable future, greater emphasis needs to be placed on reducing intra-corridor trip demand, particularly where non- vehicular transit among various uses in the corridor can be promoted and encouraged.
Note:Emphasis ours.
Source: Excerpt from conclusion of COVB adopted Shore Drive Safety Task Force Recommendations 2006
View, and download Shore Drive Safety Task Force Recommendations from VBGov.com. (18 Page PDF)
Note: This is one document officially adopted by the City of Virginia Beach to be used for planning, construction, design and funding of infrastructure and other amenities for the Shore Drive community.
SHARE THE ROAD
First in a series for 2015.
The Twelve Days of Christmas (The Shore Drive Version)
It only seemed fitting with 12 days until Christmas and the recent Lesner Bridge update (minus the speed bump fix)…..
Twelve deflated tires
Eleven misalignments
Ten angry emails
Nine nasty tweets
Eight wheelbarrows of asphalt
Seven hardhats shoveling
Six hour work window (9am to 3pm)
Five Orange Cones
Four flagmen warning
Three rollers smoothing
Two lanes a-opening
And a SPEED BUMP fixed on Shore Drive
#LESNERBRIDGE update from Project Manager – We hope that this project update will assure you that crossing the Lesner Bridge during this busy time will be a “non-event”.
December 12 2014 UPDATE:
Friends:
I am sure that many of you are busy with your holiday shopping and planning for all kinds of events over the next several weeks as we approach the end of 2014. We hope that this project update will assure you that crossing the Lesner Bridge during this busy time will be a “non-event”.
Let’s start with GOOD news:
For these next two weeks there are no scheduled daytime lane closures within the Lesner Bridge project limits.
Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) has completed their work on the existing sanitary sewer forcemain in WB Shore Drive and will require no further lane closures. HRSD has de-mobilized their construction crews located at Shore Drive/Rockbridge Road and at Shore Drive/Kleen Street.
As for the latest bridge construction progress:
Ø Construction of the new bridge abutment “A” continues on the west side of the Lynnhaven Inlet. The first concrete pour on the new bridge abutment took place on Wednesday, October 29th. Placement of the reinforcing steel and formwork for the second tier of the abutment will take place the week of November 3rd. The last concrete placement for this bridge abutment is taking place today, December 12th.
Ø All of the drilled shafts at Piers 1 and 2 of the new westbound (WB) bridge have been installed. Over the next two weeks the contractor will continue with drilled shaft installation at Pier #3, the first in-water pier to be constructed on this project. Concrete placement for the foundation cap at Pier #1 is also taking place today, December 12th.
Ø Work on the WB bridge approach in front of 3556 On the Bay condos (Shore Drive/East Stratford Street) continues. The concrete retaining wall, utilities, and temporary wire wall are all being installed concurrently at this location. As the grade in this area is built up to plan elevations, folks should begin to see how much higher the new bridge will be. The top of the wooden formwork for Abutment A will be the new elevation of the bridge deck.
Ø Work on the WB bridge approach next to the old Duck Inn property (Shore Drive/Page Avenue) also continues. A portion of the concrete footing for the new retaining wall has been poured and the area prepared for the placement of the pre-cast concrete retaining wall panels. Work on the new seawall (closer to the water’s edge) has begun within this area.
The City is coordinating their seawall construction with the private construction contractor building the private seawall on the Point Chesapeake property. The City’s seawall starts at the right-of-way line located north of Shore Drive and will continue south until it connects to the existing bulkhead located south of Shore Drive at the Maryland Pilots Association. The private seawall connects to the City’s seawall at the right of way line and continues north along the dune line towards Cape Henry Towers.
The temporary bulkhead at the Lynnhaven Dredge Material Storage Site (LDMSS) continues. The tie-back system and placement of all the reinforcing steel on the new bulkhead is now complete. Approximately half of the concrete cap has been place on the bulkhead. Work will continue on the bulkhead over the next several weeks to form and place the remainder of the bulkhead cap.
As a final note, the construction contractor will not be working over the holidays; and no work will take place on the project between December 24th, 2014 through January 5th, 2015.
That’s it for now. Have a safe driving weekend!
-Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, P.E.
Project Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Municipal Center-Bldg 2
2405 Court House Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Phone: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
No update on “speed bump” in slow lane on east side of #LESNERBRIDGE at Vista Circle as you can see.
Screen shot of construction cam photo taken at 1130am DEC12 2014
“City Seeks Input on Virginia Beach’s Elderly and Disabled Real Estate Tax Relief Program”
To ensure City Council receives the best possible recommendations, the Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled Taskforce is requesting input from Virginia Beach citizens through Virtual Town Hall. A short survey has been posted whereby citizens are asked to provide feedback on their knowledge of the Elderly and Disabled Real Estate Tax Relief Program and what they think the perimeters should be. The topic will be available on Virtual Town Hall for public input until 5:00 p.m. on January 9, 2015.
To view the Elderly and Disabled Real Estate Tax Relief Program click here.
Participate in Town Hall by starting here.
This topic has an introduction from the City of Virginia Beach, 25 visitors and 11 responses. The deadline for participation is 12:00 AM on January 9, 2015.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 