The following information has been received from the city about bicycle and pedestrian access on the Lesner during construction: “Public Works staff has been coordinating with Mr. Wayne Wilcox, who is the City’s liaison to the BTAC. Although several options have been explored to provide temporary pedestrian and bicycle access across the bridge, during Phase 3 of construction, staff has not found a safe, buildable and economically-feasible solution. Phase 3 is the critical phase because the entire width of the bridge is needed to handle the four lanes of traffic, and there is no additional space for a sidewalk or a bike lane. Staff will continue to brainstorm ideas with the stakeholders and the contractor (once determined) in order to try to find a resolution to this issue.”
Category Archives: Safety
Man exposes himself to 2 girls on bike path.
From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:
The following received from a resident on Beech St.
On Tuesday, at approximately 2:30pm, two teenage girls disembarked from the school bus.
They stopped to talk before parting ways at the bike path.
A white male in his mid-40’s walked past them on the bike path with his private parts exposed.
When my daughter started walking down the bike path toward home, he turned around and followed her.
She ran back to her friend and they ran to the friend’s home where an adult was waiting.
Police were called and a report was filed.
The man was wearing black athletic shorts, a gray t-shirt, white walking shoes and knee socks. He had no facial hair.
Please remember to call 911 if you see a crime in action and call 385-5000, option 1, to report crimes after they have occurred or to report any suspicious activity. Also, please call or email the NW Coordinator so crime reports and suspicious activities can be shared with all of our residents.
More details posted 9.11.13 @ 646p:
The man is described as overweight, height about 5′ 7″ and had a receding hairline so the victims couldn’t distinguish his hair color. If anyone has any information about this man, please call the police at 385-5000.
” 911 Call Center Working Virginia Beach 9-1-1 lines are functioning on a backup system. This system does not provide your location or telephone number information, so if you dial 9-1-1 please remain on the line and speak with the 9-1-1 call taker. “
“Four lanes of traffic will remain open throughout construction, although there will be a 15-month period during which pedestrians and cyclists will not be able to cross the bridge, Jarman said. The city is looking into options, including busing, to assist pedestrians across Lynnhaven Inlet.”
…there will be a 15-month period during which pedestrians and cyclists will not be able to cross the bridge…
Read the entire article at Pilotonline.com.
After the Lesner Bridge project, Jarman said, the city may consider keeping the bulkhead at Crab Creek permanently and request a permit modification from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
During the first phase of construction, the pedestrian walkway on the westbound span of the existing bridge will be removed. The new westbound span will be built just north of the current bridge, and all traffic will remain open on the old bridge. That could take about 15 months, wrapping up by summer 2015, Jarman said.
“Early next year, staff will install devices that prevent flooding back-flow through city drains during high-water events at five locations in the Lynnhaven Colony neighborhood.”
Read entire article at Pilotonline.com:
The city is tasked with finding a permanent solution as it watches the sea levels rise, coupled with more intensive weather events, City Manager Jim Spore said in a letter to the council.
His staff will present a comprehensive plan early next year.
Hopefully they will be as successful as the one installed in Crab Creek that prevented storm surge flooding coming through the storm drains in October 2012 during Super Storm Sandy.
Previously at SDCC.info:
Article on dredging: “Two years ago, neighborhood residents packed a meeting room to tell city officials not to build a transfer site in a residential area on Maple Street along Long Creek.”
A crane on a barge will scoop mud and sand from the bottom of the Lynnhaven River. The dredged material will be brought ashore at the Thalia Dredged Material Transfer Facility, and trucked to a spoils site off Oceana Boulevard.
“The westbound lanes of the Lesner Bridge in Virginia Beach got a 7.5”
WVEC.com coverage of bridge safety in Hampton Roads.
House fire near Shore Drive this afternoon. 2 displaced.
A lightning strike appears to have sparked a house fire that displaced two people this afternoon.
Fire on the fireworks barge located on west side of Lesner
You were watching our amazing fireworks on the 4th, whether they were from the east or west side of the Lesner.
Remember the long lull on the west side?
From the Ocean Park Civic League Facebook discussion about the coulda been very tragic incident:
The shooter had to rewire the finale since it was destroyed. He knows and is putting together a statement for me to distribute.
Stay tuned for more info coming soon.
House fire in the 2500 block of Lone Pine Point on Bay Island yesterday. You probably saw the black smoke.
Interactive water quality map for beaches
Thanks to CBF for the tip about this site.
In the early 2000s, Virginia expanded the beach monitoring program to include all major beaches in the state. The VDH recognizes that contamination of beachwater due to sanitary sewer overflows, breaks in pipes, boat discharges, stormwater runoff, and wildlife poses a risk to human health. The goal of the program is to inform the public and protect recreational swimmers from contaminated water.
Emphasis ours.
ATTEND OUR MEETING MONDAY! “Come hear the City’s interim plan to fix stormwater problems for areas east of the Lesner Bridge. There will also be an $80+ million project that could impact homes and businesses. You will definitely want to attend and learn the study details.”
Meeting at:
Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad
STARTS 730pm
VIEW MEETING AGENDA at SDCC.info
Dave L. Hansen – Deputy City Manager will be making the presentation.
As article below mentions, City Council will be voting on the recommendations in August 2013.
They plan to present the idea to the Shore Drive Community Coalition on Monday before taking it to the council in August, Hansen said…But [Todd Solomon] said the city should explore some less-expensive solutions, such as using inflatable pipe plugs to prevent tidal flooding, like the one installed in Ocean Park before Hurricane Sandy.”
Read entire article at Pilotonline.com:
Solomon, who lives on First Landing Lane in Cape Story, said he thinks it is. He estimates 130 homes could benefit from the interim project, especially in clearing roads for access by emergency vehicles.
But he said the city should explore some less-expensive solutions, such as using inflatable pipe plugs to prevent tidal flooding, like the one installed in Ocean Park before Hurricane Sandy.
3 Comments at article:
As a long time resident of Lynnhaven Colony who is blessed to live on higher ground, I have witnessed my neighbors deal with the annual flooding along Lynnhaven Drive and Cape Henry Drive. These are not high end residences in most cases but one story brick homes built as Virginia Beach developed into a City many years ago. Many of the residents in the flood zone, are older or retired and are unable to simply pick up and move as one poster suggests. Mr. Hanson and his team met with the Civic League some years back and throughly explained the proablem facing residents when double nor’easters back up the tides in Broad Bay causing the flooding in LC and other neighborhoods. These are taxpayers and something needs to be done to help them.
A great deal of the issue is rainwater, but a floodgate would be a huge help in my mind, and it would seem easier. Especially since Lesner is way overdue on replacement anyway
Let them all move. They live/moved there for proximity to water views and waterfront property and now they have it. The bay was there first. The City should NOT spend once cent on helping those who made poor choices in where to live.
Previously at SDCC.info:
“Police are asking for help to find the driver in a hit-and-run crash that killed a bicyclist in Ocean View.”
Tragic.
Police were looking for a small, red sedan with extensive front-end damage.
Coverage at WVEC including video.
If you have seen the vehicle, you are asked to call the Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.
This is a reminder to share Shore Drive safely, cycle, walk and drive carefully and stay focused on the road – particularly as we begin our busy, bustling summer season.
One lane blocked east bound Shore Drive at Salty’s
At time of this post. Police and Fire on scene.
Tropical Storm Andrea on the way
Incident Involving Young Child
From Cape Story Neighborhood Watch:
An incident occurred this afternoon around 3:00 on Wake Forest St. that needs to be shared. A young boy had gotten off the school bus at the bike path. As he was walking towards his home, a grey car slowed down beside him and a young female in the passenger seat stuck her arm out the window and offered him something (he thought she said “candy”). He ignored her and continued walking to his home and arrived safely. He told his mother it was a car (not a SUV or truck) and the woman looked “nice” but he couldn’t see who was driving. The car was travelling towards Shore Drive. The police have been notified.
Needless to say, this could have been very serious so please remind your children to always be aware and not to talk to strangers.
Please remember to call 911 if you see a crime in action and call 385-5000, option 1, to report crimes after they have occurred or to report any suspicious activity. Also, please call or email the NW Coordinator so crime reports and suspicious activities can be shared with all of our residents.
Be safe this holiday weekend!
NOAA predicts active 2013 Atlantic hurricane season
For the six-month hurricane season, which begins June 1, NOAA’s Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook says there is a 70 percent likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms (winds of 39 mph or higher), of which 7 to 11 could become hurricanes (winds of 74 mph or higher), including 3 to 6 major hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of 111 mph or higher).
These ranges are well above the seasonal average of 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes.
“Two men were shot this morning outside the Bayside Inn at 2104 Pleasure House Road.”
Coverage at WAVY.com including video.
Coverage at WVEC.com including video.
Coverage at WTKR.com.
The first victim, a 23-year-old man, was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, but did require surgery.
The second victim, a 30-year-old man, responded to a hospital on his own.












