We are trying to find out why and for how long.
We were told:
Nope. Just on the westbound bridge. You will have to use the eastbound bridge. They need to remove sections of sidewalk on the westbound bridge in order to build the new bridge abutment.
The first article “Along river, nature is preserved for wildlife, people” by Kathy Adams can be found here http://hamptonroads.com/2014/07/along-river-nature-preserved-wildlife-people
Click here for a printable version of the agenda SDCC Agenda 7.28.14
Call to order:
Meeting topic: National Flood Insurance Program Rates
Home Owner Options
Costs and Requirements to Raise a Home
Officers’ Reports: President’s Report David Williams
Vice President’s report Rick Mercadante
Secretary’s Report Todd Solomon –JUNE Minutes
Treasurer’s Report Paulette Hruska
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn
Next SDCC- Monday AUGUST 25, 2014
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Please check www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events
Woo hoo!
Read entire article at Pilotonline.com:
“It’s a major walkway for a lot of people,” Williams said. “It’s good that the people of the city listened to the citizens. Before, they said they couldn’t do it. It’s good that they have found a way.”
Be safe people!
As Virginia Beach seems to be in the sites of Arthur, consider what precautions that you should take. Storm forecasting is still an art and not totally a science. It is possible to be told that it will be “mostly a rain event” with tropical storm winds of gale force, but storms and their tracks change quickly. Sometimes the last minute shift in course or intensity is to our advantage, sometimes not so. Consider the following preparations:
1. Do not leave your car in an area that floods easily. You can relocate your car to North Great Neck Road to one of the school parking lots. The Great Neck area is high enough so it should not flood.
2. Put some water in containers in your freezer in case power is lost. It helps keep things cold if power should be lost, and will also serve as drinking water if needed.
3. Check your flashlights and battery supply. The new LED type flashlights are 4 times brighter and the batteries last 10 times longer. Great source for light. Know where your flashlights are located.
4. Look at the areas around your house which could flood and make sure nothing valuable or potentially hazardous could get wet (lawn fertilizer, pool chemicals, tools etc.). And don’t forget to bring in all the lawn furniture.
5. If a room floods and the wall board gets wet, the wet wall board should be removed quickly so it will not damage more wall board. If the insulation gets wet remove it also, BUT wear gloves as this stuff itches. If you have to remove a lot of insulation, wear a face mask to prevent breathing the insulation fibers.
6. PERSONAL SAFETY. Don’t drive in water that comes to the bottom of your car’s doors (8 or more inches). You can’t plow through it and the water will come up over your hood. If you get water in your engine (sucked into engine intake), you may have to buy a new engine. When you don’t know how deep the water, go around or go back. Don’t use a BBQ grill in the garage or house as the the carbon-monoxide fumes can kill you and your pets. CO fumes are heavier than CO2, so CO fumes will sink and collect in the lower parts of your house. BE careful. Keep a fire extinguisher handy. If there are down power lines, consider them HOT and LETHAL. Tree branches CAN conduct electricity, as can metal fences, so don’t touch them if your neighborhood has a power outage.
7. Watch out for one another. BE GOOD Neighbors and don’t create wakes on your road. These wakes can do damage to adjacent homes. If you are going away from the area, let your neighbor know in case of damage to your house.
Let us all hope for the best. Our lawns need some rain, but let’s hope the winds are mild and the rains are only refreshing.
From an email, unedited:
Friends:
Below is the latest update on the Lesner Bridge replacement project from Chris Wojtowicz, project manager. If you have any questions or need additional information, please let either Chris or me know and we will be glad to help you.
Enjoy your holiday weekend.
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beachdlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353Summer has officially begun, and – as you have noticed – so has the construction of the replacement Lesner Bridge project. I have spoken or corresponded with many of you over the past few weeks regarding your concerns with the start of this construction work. Based on these discussions, our project team felt that a brief update on the work and our response to the top three concerns might help folks better understand what work is taking place right now.
Below are the top three questions – and answers – that we have been discussing with so many of you:
Q: “Why wasn’t my property included in Pre-Construction Damage Assessment Survey?”
A: Generally, all properties (10) within 200 feet from a source of vibration that could exceed a threshold particle velocity value of 0.5 in/sec between a frequency of 2 and 10 Hz have been included in the contract documents. We refer to the AASHTO Standard Recommended Practice for Evaluation of Transportation-Related Earthborne Vibrations for selecting this threshold particle velocity – which is the level at which a plaster wall MIGHT begin to crack.
If your property was not included in the contract documents as one of those requiring a survey, then your property fell outside of this zone of influence and has an extremely low risk of structural damage from construction related earth related vibrations. That being said, if the City felt that there was any risk of structural damage to a particular property, that property would have been included in the contract documents as requiring both a Pre- and Post-Construction Damage Assessment Survey.
Beyond the expected areas of influence, seismographs – along with horizontal and vertical control points – have been placed so that the project team can monitor these vibrations in real time and make adjustments to the construction methods if necessary. [As a side note, people “sense” or respond to a much broader range of vibration frequencies and intensities than structures. Intrusive vibration levels might concern some folks at much lower intensities than levels considered critical for structures (0.5 inches/sec between 2 and 10 Hz)].
So even though extremely low levels of vibration may be a nuisance to some people and cause one to become concerned about structural damage, there really is very little risk of this damage. All Pre-Construction Damage Assessment Surveys have been completed at this time.
Q: “Why does the Contractor have to work at night? There is so much noise!”
A: The contractor is only performing work at night that requires temporary lane closures on Shore Drive. Since we are in the summer months, daytime lane closures on Shore Drive are not permitted until after September 30th unless an exemption is granted by the Public Works Traffic Engineering Dept. Both stationary and non-stationary noise at night is now being monitored by the City using an Extech Digital Sound Level Meter to assure the Contractor’s compliance with the contract documents.
Q: “Why did the bridge contractor placed a fence at East Stratford Street and Shore Drive? This impedes pedestrians who want to cross Shore Drive from East Stratford Street to get to the beach since the beach access at the boat ramps has been closed.”
A: New storm drainage and a large stormwater management device need to be installed at this corner. This fence and other barriers are required to “safe-up” the work area and the deep excavation that will be performed. The project team has reviewed the pedestrian access concern and will make some minor design changes (such as moving the stormwater management structure further to the east) to better accommodate these pedestrians. The proposed changes are that the pedestrian signals will be un-bagged and a gate will be added to the temporary fence to allow pedestrians access to the existing crosswalk. These changes will be implemented before July 4th.
The work taking place right now on the project involves modifying the approach lanes at both existing bridges in preparation for shifting the lanes of traffic slightly to the south. This lane shift is required in order to make room for the equipment and utilities needed to construct the new westbound bridge. The crane that is out there now on the west side of the bridges will be used in the construction of the first bridge footing and abutment for the new westbound bridge.
Bridge footing construction will likely begin in August 2014 and will progress from west to east. During this time the concrete casting yard, Atlantic Metrocast Inc., in Portsmouth VA will be prepared for production of the pre-cast concrete bridge sections. Placement of the first bridge segments on the new bridge piers/foundations will likely begin in mid-March 2015.
Thank you again for all of your valuable input that helps us move this project along in a safe and responsible manner. Still to come – Lesner Bridge Construction Webpage with live/time lapse construction video.
Enjoy your summer.
-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
Sidewalk at beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility is now closed.
PLEASE keep in mind IF you choose to park there to go to beach it will be challenging to say the least
Note: Photo was not in email but added by the Editor to ensure everyone knows of the challenges using the beloved Lynnhaven Boat Ramp & Beach Facility this coming Holiday Weekend. Be safe people.
Please enter at the rear of the building where the cypher lock is.
Previously about Croakers Variance Request.
Croakers upper deck
From 2 emails:
Folks:
Below is a message from Chris Wojtowicz concerning the pre-construction damage assessment surveys of homes and businesses that is being conducted prior to the beginning of construction on the new Lesner Bridge. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact Chris or me and we will be happy to assist you.
Thanks.
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beachdlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353Dear Residents of the Shore Drive Community:
With the Notice to Proceed issued to McLean Construction on June 2nd, 2014, construction of the new Lesner Bridge is about to begin.
One of the first things that is going to be performed by McLean is pre-construction damage assessment surveys of homes and businesses located adjacent to the construction limits of the new bridges. Seismic Surveys, Inc. (SSI) is an independent, third party consulting firm that has been retained by McLean Contracting (bridge construction contractor) to conduct these damage assessment surveys between June 9th 2014 and June 20th 2014.
These pre-construction damage assessment surveys are conducted to document the existing condition of properties prior to the start of the bridge construction.
THIS SURVEY IS A VOLUNTARY AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE USED TO PROTECT ALL PARTIES INVOLVED. CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED TO HAVE ANY IMPACT ON PRIVATE PROPERTY.
The pre-construction damage assessment survey will consist of both an interior and exterior assessment of selected properties and will include photographic and written documentation of the various building materials and pre-existing cracks that are visible during the survey. If your property is one selected and you authorize SSI to conduct a survey, please bring specific items of concern related to your property to the attention of the SSI employee conducting the survey. We encourage and request that you accompany the SSI representative so that you may receive the best possible survey in the time available.
During the construction operations, seismic monitoring equipment will be used to measure ground vibration. Normally these monitors are installed at the closest structures to the work. The vibration intensity (particle velocity) threshold set for this project is based on research by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO Designation R 8-96) and private consultants.
Particle velocities are not expected to reach this threshold value during any portion of bridge construction; however, some vibration may be noticeable during certain times as this work progresses.
Coordination of these surveys will be done by a representative of SSI.
Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact Patrick Hastings with SSI at 888-250-6566.
For any other questions regarding the bridge construction, please contact me at (757) 385-5785 or at cwojtowi@vbgov.com
Thank You,
-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
Case 8: Joseph Johns requests a variance to request a modification of conditions of a variance previously approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals on May 15, 1991 to allow 21 off-street parking spaces instead of 30 off-street parking spaces as required for a residential addition on Lots 4 & 5, Ocean Park, 3629 Shore Drive. Bayside District #4, ZONING: B-2, RMA, GPIN: 1489-58-0895
Neighbors are working to set up a meeting with Croakers consultant to find out their intentions.
Learn more about all dog parks in VB.
Thanks for your feedback last year on the design of a dog park at Bayville Farms Park (located at 4132 First Court Road). With your input, the park was designed to accommodate seperate areas for both large and small dogs. We are happy to report that construction of the new dog park has been completed and it is now open to the public.
Let’s keep it safe!
Woo hoo!
Check out the 3 page PDF with more info.
From Tour de Virginia Beach July 2009 advocating for more bike lanes.
Link to Virginia Beach CIP search page.
After years of studies and waiting, a federal plan to help rehabilitate the Lynnhaven River is moving forward.
The Senate passed a bill Thursday authorizing a $12 billion package of water projects across the country, including $22.8 million for work in Virginia Beach’s largest waterway.
Click here for a printable agenda SDCC Agenda March2014
PLEASE NOTE CHANGE IN DATE TO TUESDAY DUE TO MEMORIAL DAY
Shore Drive Community Coalition
SDCC General Meeting
7:30-8:30 pm
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Station (Intersection of Shore Drive and East Stratford Rd.)
Call to order:
Officers’ Reports: President’s Report David Williams
Vice President’s report Rick Mercadante
Secretary’s Report Todd Solomon –APR Minutes
Treasurer’s Report Paulette Hruska
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn
Next SDCC- Monday JUNE 30, 2014 Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad Center
Please check www.sdcc.info for more information on area news and events
The city’s health department has issued a swimming and wading advisory for the Chesapeake Bay between Wake Forest and Kendall streets because of bacteria levels in the water.
The advisory includes the First Landing State Park coastline along the bay. It does not affect the Oceanfront.
Recent tests by the health department found bacteria levels exceeded State Water Quality Standards, according to a news release.
Signs will be posted on the beach.
All are welcome at the CSBTS Civic Meeting.
At the request of Bayfront Advisory Committee, Traffic Engineering staff has surveyed the Bayfront Communities north of Shore Drive between the Lesner Bridge and State Park, including Cape Story by the Sea community. The purpose of this parking survey was to locate the illegal no parking signs, misplaced signs, illegal encroachments, and those legal no parking signs that are no longer needed due to changes over the years in this area.
In case you missed it, here is the Virginian-Pilot’s article regarding Saturday’s stabbing incident at Chesapeake House on the Bay condos.
Stabbing at condominium near Lesner Bridge in Va. Beach
By Stacy Parker
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 26, 2014Three people suffered stab wounds after a domestic-related incident turned violent Friday.
Police and rescue personnel responded to a call at 3:24 p.m. at Chesapeake House on the Bay, a condominium complex at 3558 Shore Drive, where they found three victims complaining of stab wounds, said Officer Tonya Borman, police spokesperson.
Two victims were transported to the hospital with non life-threatening injuries. One person was treated at the scene.
The suspect, Bradley Good, 18, was located and arrested. Good has been charged with one account of aggravated malicious wounding.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 