Check article at Pilotonline.com.
“That is something that bothers me,” he said.
So, he entered the Take Action Against Distraction license plate design contest for Virginia students in grades 9 through 12. His message: “Phone down, Eyes Up.”
Category Archives: Photos
Lesner Municipal Wharf audio presentation including Q&A
Start here to visit audio link at Google Drive.
Thanks to Mr. Phill Roehrs, P.E. Water Resources Engineer for the City of Virginia Beach Public Works Engineering, for coming out at our February 26th meeting to present and answer questions about the Lesner Municipal Wharf.
Here’s an old photo.
Thanks to the City Manager for requesting City Council Fund 100% of Phase 4 in FY2019-2024 Budget.
Big thanks also goes out to everyone who helped lobby for this!
No need to TAKE ACTION Tuesday evening.
If you were planning to attend City Council Open Mic night tomorrow night you can change your plans.
Phase 4, when completed, will bring Shore Drive up to date with sidewalks, bike lanes, etc.
Please be sure to thank City Manager Hansen, the Mayor, Vice Mayor and City Council for doing this!
Bayline March Newsletter from BAC
Check out the entire Baylines March ’18 edition. (4 page PDF)
Lesner opening in July 2018.
Finishing the Lesner, even if it’s behind schedule, will only benefit the area, Henry said.
“We expect business to increase,” he said. “I know it will help our location and get more people to Shore Drive.”
Screen shot of construction cam from March 2nd ’18 at 11am.
Exciting panel discussion about The Canoes at MOCA!
Join us for a discussion on the integration of two seemingly disconnected fields: Art and Engineering. Learn how the merging of creativity and calculation gives us a new perception of our community. Our distinguished panelists include:
Donald Lipski
Artist of The Canoes at Lesner BridgeChris Wojtowicz
City of Virginia Beach, Project Manager of the Lesner Bridge Replacement ProjectMel Price, Principal, Work Program Architects (WPA)
Moderated by Ron Williams, Virginia Beach Deputy City Manager
PHP opportunity! “City of Virginia Beach Office of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Brock Environmental Center, is looking to engage an artist or artist group for an artist residency to create a site-specific, environmentally responsive installation that spotlights the natural beauty, educates and reignites community appreciation for the Chesapeake Bay, while highlighting Virginia Beach’s natural spaces.”
PLEASURE HOUSE POINT ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIVE ARTIST RESIDENCY REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL / CITY OF VIRGINIA BEACH
Check out the exciting details here ! (8 page PDF)
Artist Opportunities at VBGov.com includes this amazing new opportunity for Ocean Park & PHP.
“Chairman of the Bayfront Advisory Commission for the past eighteen years, Kal Kassir is a firm believer in the power of citizen advocacy groups and the benefits they bring to communities.”
Great article about Kal in Pilotonline.com:
“There was so much natural beauty and opportunity,” said Kassir, who was born in Iraq. “Virginia Beach has grown up since saw it as a college student, but I’ve always loved this city.”
Some of that passion is found in his volunteerism as chair of the Bayfront Advisory Commission. The group started in 1998 . . .
Ocean Park Civic League would like your help in helping Vice Mayor Jones secure funding for Phase 4 for Shore Drive upgrades in Ocean Park.
Please Email City Council now. You will make a difference at OPCL.org
Dear Mayor, Vice Mayor & City Council Members,
I am petitioning you to fund Shore Drive Phase IV immediately.
Specifically:
1. Please find 50% funding for CIP 2.118.000 Shore Drive Corridor Improvements-Phase 4 in 2018.
2. Please fund 100% of Phase 4 by 2019.
Finishing Phase IV now is critical to the health of Virginia Beach. Why?
The City Council commissioned Urban Land Institute Study of Shore Drive in 1996 and City Council Adopted Comprehensive Plan in 1997 state that:
“(Virginia Beach should) Recognize and improve the Shore Drive corridor as a resort gateway community, not a resort destination.”
“Shore Drive also serves as a tourist gateway for those heading to the oceanfront, offering for many their first glimpse of the City of Virginia Beach. Therefore, it is important to make a good first impression.”
City Council previously recognized the importance of this corridor:
1. City Council created the Shore Drive (Bayfront) Advisory Committee . . .
Click to view OPCL.org page.
“With construction of the Lesner Bridge expected to wrap up by the end of summer, Roehrs said it’s time to revisit the issue.”
View entire article at Pilotonline.com:
In the future, “we don’t want to lose the option to use it as a transfer site for neighborhood dredging,” Roehrs said.
In 1972, the city bought the space – southwest of the bridge and across from a cluster of waterfront seafood restaurants – to stockpile sand for Oceanfront beach replenishment.
“BOTH EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND TRAFFIC CROSSING THE BRIDGE WILL BE REDUCED TO A SINGLE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION.” Saturday 10am to 10pm #LesnerBridge Update.
PLEASE SHARE ENTHUSIASTICALLY !
Expect delays caused by single lane in both directions from 10am to 10pm.
From an email update from Project Manager:
Folks:
In the last project update (11/22/2017) we mentioned that we had issues with one of the 10 drilled shaft foundations for Pier #5 of the new eastbound bridge. Between the holidays, cold weather, and a longer than expected duration for remediation of drilled shaft #1 at Pier #5 construction of the EB bridge superstructure had been temporarily suspended. That was the bad news.
Now the good news. Shaft #1 at Pier #5 has been fully remediated, all 10 drilled shafts in this footing have been cut down to the correct elevation, and all of the reinforcing steel for the footing has been placed. The footing is now ready to receive the 400 cubic yards of concrete which is planned for tomorrow, February 3rd, 2018. The concrete will be delivered to this footing via two concrete pumper trucks parked near the center span of the Lesner Bridge eastbound lanes.
This, unfortunately, means lane closures on Lesner Bridge for most of the day tomorrow, Saturday February 3, 2018. Here are the details:
Beginning tomorrow, 2/3/2018 at approximately 10:00 AM single lane closures will be setup on Shore Drive approaching eastbound Lesner Bridge between DuPont Circle and Vista Circle. Single lane closures will also be setup during this time for westbound Shore Drive traffic approaching Lesner Bridge between Page Avenue and East Stratford Street. BOTH EASTBOUND AND WESTBOUND TRAFFIC CROSSING THE BRIDGE WILL BE REDUCED TO A SINGLE LANE IN EACH DIRECTION. BOTH eastbound lanes on Lesner Bridge will be CLOSED until the concrete placement operations are completed. All work and temporary lane closures on Shore Drive at Lesner Bridge are expected to be cleared by 10:00 PM Saturday night, February 3rd, 2018. Be advised that, in addition to the lane reductions on the bridge, there will also be flaggers present that will intermittently STOP all traffic in BOTH directions on the bridge to allow the arrival and departure of concrete delivery trucks.
There will be a lot of activity on the bridge tomorrow so please plan accordingly and drive slowly when crossing the bridge.
Once Pier #5 is complete, we will launch the gantry across the inlet, set the pier segments on Pier #5 and then launch to Pier #6 and set the pier segments on Pier column #6. Span #6 will then be assembled by picking segments off a barge moored in this location. After Span #6 is completed, the gantry will be back-launched toward the channel to complete the other half of the cantilever section of Span #5 that crosses the channel.
Footing Reinforcing Steel being placed at Pier #5 EB Bridge (Completed Pier Column #6 shown in background)
View looking East from East Stratford Street at the recently graded area for the 10-foot wide multi-use path that will cross the new EB Bridge.
Since the last update other work on the project continued while waiting for Pier #5 to be completed. The following work has been completed since the November 22, 2017 update:
· 4 additional segments of cantilever Span #5 have been constructed for the new EB bridge (8 total);
· The footing and column at Pier #7 have been completed;
· The cofferdam around the footing for Pier #8 has been installed and the and the area around the drilled shafts excavated;
· All four drilled shafts at Pier #9 have been installed (ALL DRILLED SHAFT INSTALLATION FOR THE PROJECT IS NOW COMPLETE);
· Abutment B for the EB bridge has been completed;
· Grading for the new 10-foot wide multi-use path between the new EB Bridge and East Stratford Street has been completed;
· The remaining two street lights (four total) on the western bridge approach have been installed;
Completed Abutment B EB Bridge. Forms being removed.
Completed Footing and Column at Pier #7 new EB Bridge (Forms shown being removed).
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:
· Complete the footing and column at Pier #5;
· Place reinforcement steel for the footing at Pier #8;
· Backfill Abutment B and complete MSE wall #5 located in front of the Virginia and Maryland Pilots Association;
· Install falsework for gantry launch at Pier #5;
· Complete concrete multi-use path along MSE wall #2 between East Stratford and the new EB Bridge; and
· Complete curb & gutter and median curb on the west side of the bridge between East Stratford Street and the new EB Bridge.
That’s it for now!
Drive Safely!
-Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Engineering Construction Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
THE live oak in Chics Beach is getting crown cleaning and branch reduction Tuesday December 19th.
From an email:
Good afternoon Elisa,
I received word today that our contractor plans to do the crown cleaning and branch reduction tomorrow for the Live Oak at 2512 Bayview Avenue. We are requesting any onlookers to remain well back from city and private property lines in order to insure safety. This should be good timing for the work, as trees have now entered dormancy due to the colder temperatures. Landscape Management has every expectation that the work will go smoothly and be beneficial for the health of this notable tree.
Sincerely,
Susan French
City Arborist
Virginia Beach Parks & RecreationLandscape Management Division | 4141 Dam Neck Road | Virginia Beach, VA 23456
Phone 757.385.4076 | Fax 757.427.1895|sfrench@vbgov.com | VBgov.com/Parks
View Petition at Change.org that helped get this beloved live oak some extra care.
OPVRS volunteer Ben Cohen in the news!
Coyotes are now your neighbor
View article including photos at Pilotonline.com.
“Coyotes and wolves and dogs don’t normally get along,” Fies said. “But when a species is expanding its range, and there’s not enough of its own kind for mating, I guess they can get along for long enough.”
Because of that, Fies says, our coyotes are a little bigger than the ones out west, and come in more colors – from blonde to black – which can make them even harder to recognize.
Photo credit: Eric Hauser
Sea Level Rise Public Meetings Schedule for Shore Drive area including fascinating map designating areas.
All of the meetings will take place from 6 to 8 p.m.
Shore Drive areas are split into 3,30 & 31.
Mon., Dec. 11, 2017 8, 29, 30
Oceanfront: Beach District and the Lynnhaven east of Great Neck Road
Cooke Elementary School,
1501 Mediterranean AvenueThurs., Jan 25, 2018 3, 4
Western Lynnhaven: North of Princess Anne Road; bounded to the east by South Rosemont Road and Little Neck Road
Princess Anne High School,
4400 Virginia Beach Blvd.Mon., Jan. 29, 2018 1,31
Little Creek: Area to the east where Shore Drive meets Northampton Blvd.
Bayside High School,
4960 Haygood Road
Seems strange Bayfront community was spit up into 3 meetings none held here.
Updated CIP Phase 3 page with all files
Thanks to Chris Wojo for the great presentation last night!
He also uploaded all the files for Phase 3 also known as 2.117.000.
Here’s the Official Phase 3 2.1117.000 page.
As you heard last night, some highlights of Phase 3 includes:
-
Stormwater work including saving live oaks at the new pond at Shore Drive & Page Ave.
Stormwater work that’ll also tie into the CIP on the Cape Henry Ditch.
Stormwater work on the north side of Shore Drive problem areas.
Wider sidewalks on both the north and south side.
Bike lanes on both the north and south side.
Young humpback whale died & had necropsy on Lynnhaven beach today
Read and view more photos at Pilotonline.com.
Juvenile humpback whale found dead near Lynnhaven Fishing Pier at 13NewsNow.com.
Dead whale spotted in Chesapeake Bay brought ashore by Virginia Aquarium at WTKR.com.
Dead whale spotted near Chic’s Beach at WAVY.com.
Note: Area where humpback whale was brought to shore is not Chics Beach.
“The City Council approved a change in zoning for the Marina Shores Marina property off North Great Neck Road Tuesday, paving the way for a new apartment complex and restaurant to be built.”
Also, there is no traffic signal or crosswalk at Lynnhaven Drive and North Great Neck Road, and residents want to be able to cross safely.
Councilman Jim Wood, who represents the Lynnhaven area, said he wants the city manager to evaluate options on North Great Neck Road, where the speed limit is 45 mph.
#LESNERBRIDGE update from Project Manager: “The answer is we cannot launch the gantry across the channel to complete construction of the center span until. . .”
Update from email:
Folks:
It’s been a while since the last update on the project and some of you have asked why it seems that we have stopped construction of the bridge superstructure over the inlet channel. The answer is we cannot launch the gantry across the channel to complete construction of the center span until we complete construction of Pier #5. The construction of pier 5 was delayed over the summer due to an issue with one of the 10 drilled shafts installed for this foundation. This shaft was completed this past Saturday 11/18/2017 and work is currently under way to prepare the formwork for the footing of this pier.
Once Pier #5 is complete, we will launch the gantry across the inlet, set the pier segments on Pier #5 and then launch to Pier #6 (recently completed) and set the pier segments on Pier column #6. Span #6 will then be assembled by picking segments off a barge moored in this location. After Span #6 is completed, the gantry will be back-launched toward the channel to complete the other half of the cantilever section of Span #5 that crosses the channel. So for the next two months expect see a lot of activity in the area of Pier #5 (east side of the channel).
Completed Drilled Shafts at Pier #5 EB Bridge (Completed Pier Column #6 shown in background)
View looking WNW at Cantilever A of Span 5 of the new EB Lesner Bridge.
Although the construction of Pier #5 was delayed, other bridge work continued and a lot has been done since the last update. Since our last project update in September the following work has been completed:
· Span #4 (of 10) and 4 segments of cantilever Span #5 have been constructed for the new EB bridge;
· Drilled Shaft foundations at Pier #5 have been completed;
· The footing and column at Pier #6 have been completed;
· The footing at Pier #7 has been completed;
· All four drilled shafts at Pier #8 have been installed;
· Two of the four drilled shafts at Pier #9 have been installed;
· Two of the three concrete placements for bridge Abutment B have been completed;
· The new bridge fender system beneath the new eastbound bridge has been completed (only four piles remain to be installed between the two new bridges);
· Construction of the bridge approach slab on the west side of the bridge has been completed;
· The storm drain system on the eastern bridge approach has been completed;
· The storm drain system on the western bridge approach has been completed (tie-in to existing stormwater drainage system at East Stratford Street currently under way);
· The retaining wall, including scenic overlook area, along Piedmont Circle and next to American Brew and the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Office has been completed;
· Two of the four new street lights on the western bridge approach have been installed;
· All casting of bridge segments have been completed for the project by Atlantic Metrocast in Portsmouth, VA;
Partially Completed Abutment B EB Bridge. Forms being removed.
Completed Footing at Pier #7 new EB Bridge.
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:
· Complete drilled shaft foundations at Pier #9 (this will complete all drilled shaft installation on the project);
· Set formwork and chip drilled shafts to specified elevation at Pier #5;
· Place column at Pier #7;
· Complete MSE wall #5 located in front of the Virginia and Maryland Pilots Association ;
· Work on setting 4 more segments in Span #5; and
· Complete curbing along MSE wall #2 located next to the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp Office;
That’s it for now.
Have a Happy Thanksgiving and Please drive safely!
-Chris
“Venerable Live Oak” in Chics Beach is saved!
Congratulations to everyone involved with helping to preserve the “venerable Live Oak”!
Special thanks to Frank Fentress & Susan French of COVB, Elisa Morrell, Michelle Zimmerman, Chesapeake Beach Civic League, Friends of Live Oaks and all those who support treating of our precious live oaks instead of destruction.
Here’s the update at the Change.org Petition set up for her.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 