Photo Credit: Irene Bowers for The Virginian-Pilot
A second Public Works project is fast approaching a Monday deadline to request a public meeting.
The Greenwell Road Sidewalk Project provides a pedestrian thoroughfare along the south end of the road, extending from Shore Drive to Bayside Recreation Center.
The city plans to install a 5 foot wide concrete sidewalk from Shore Drive to Delco Road, and an 8 foot wide asphalt pathway from Delco to First Court Road, along the west side of the street.
Curious what is proposed for Marina Shores new development ?
Attend the Bayfront Advisory Committee meeting on January 21 at Virginia Beach Resort & Conference Center at 2800 Shore Drive from 330p – 530p to see presentation.
Trace your finger along a map of the South Carolina coast and you’d be hard-pressed to find a town that hasn’t adopted a resolution against drilling for oil and gas. More than 20 communities there have lined up against the idea. It’s much the same in coastal North Carolina and Georgia.
Interestingly, the City of Virginia Beach does not list offshore drilling as a Hot Topic at VBGov.com. Shouldn’t it be listed?
Editor’s note: SDCC has not taken a vote on offshore drilling.
This is getting voted on at City Council Meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday.
Part of the inspiration for it was to help civic leagues, like Cape Story by The Sea, have charitable events to raise funds for their non-profit organization without having to pay Event Taxes.
Please contact your Councilperson to encourage them to approve the change.
Live in Shore Drive area? West of the Lesner Bridge, like Ocean Park, Vice Mayor Jones is our rep. East of Lesner Bridge, like Lynnhaven Colony, Councilman Wood is yours.
10 On Your Side’s Joe Fisher reports dive crews pulled the female from the water around 1:15 p.m. at Lynnhaven Marine, a marina on West Great Neck Road.
Thanks to Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad for generously allowing us to have our monthly meetings at their home!
Brant Schultheis Training Lt., who was recently recognized as this year’s Squad Member of the Year and the recpient of the Captain’s Award, accepted our $250 donation on behalf of the Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad.
We enthusiastically encourage you too to donate what you can to Rescue 1 and Rescue 4!
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Program/Presentation – Special Thank You presentation to Ocean Park Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Officer’s Reports Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon
Old Business-Live Oak Task Force – SDCC will be working on setting up an initial Task Force meeting in January 2016. The group will discuss ways to help protect mature trees while respecting property owners by-right allowances. If you are interested in participating, please contact Todd at todd@sdcc.info .
Ocean Park Jade Street Beach Access – Update on City’s efforts to improve beach access.
Lynnhaven Colony Bulkhead Improvement – Last month it was asked what was happening with a deteriorated residential bulkhead in the neighborhood. Updates on the City’s actions to improve this situation will be presented.
New Business –
SAVE THE DATE – Shore Drive Phase III Presentation – Mr. Jason Wilson, City Project Manager, will provide a presentation on SD Phase III at the January 25th, 2016 SDCC meeting. Mr. Wilson will discuss the projects plans for road, bike, pedestrian and storm water improvements. As with all the SDCC meetings, this is open to the public, so please invite all those that would be interested.
Bayfront Advisory Commission News – Mr. Wally Damon will update us on the actions of the Bayfront Advisory Commission.
Off Shore Oil/Gas Drilling – Update on City Council’s vote regarding this topic. What will happen next?
Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?
Next SDCC Meeting – Monday January 25, 2016 – SPECIAL PRESENTATION PHASE III SHORE DRIVE IMPROVEMENTS
As we head into the holiday season, what better gift could there be for bridge project fans than a Lesner Bridge project update from Santa’s favorite elf/helper/project manager – Chris Wojtowicz?
Work on the project has been steady and benefitted somewhat by the mild temperatures we have had the last 4-6 weeks. Crews are moving along quite well, and the project continues to progress each day.
Just a quick holiday reminder: Taking pictures of the bridge under construction and turning them into tree ornaments has become quite a fad with the residents along Shore Drive. Who knows? Maybe we can get Chris to stand in the picture as well – just leave a snack out by the Christmas tree.
Feel free to let Chris or me know if you have any questions or need more information. If you haven’t had the opportunity to watch this construction sequence animation, please check it out:
As a reminder, we are regularly updating information on our WEB page at: http://www.vbgov.com/lesner-bridge. 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 interest and patience throughout this project. Please enjoy the holidays and your time with family and friends.
AND PLEASE STAY SAFE . . . . !
Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach
dlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353
It’s been a while since the last project update in October and, as many of you have noticed, a lot has been happening since then.
Ø We have recently completed the construction of span 2 (of 10) of the new westbound Lesner Bridge and crews are working hard to have the 3rd span complete by Christmas.
Ø Ahead of the superstructure construction, work continues on the substructure (footings and pier columns). The footing and pier column for Pier 4 have been completed as well as the footings for both Piers 6 and 9. The seal slab and formwork for the Pier 5 footing were installed this week and the reinforcing steel for the column at Pier 6 has been installed.
Given that this mild and calm December weather continues, we expect to have concrete placed both in the footing of Pier 5 and in the column for Pier 6 prior to the Holiday break.
Completed Spans 1 and 2 of the new Westbound Lesner Bridge
Completed Column and Footing for Pier 4
Pier segment being positioned at Pier Column 3
Ø Utility work also continues on the east side of Lesner Bridge. A new 8-inch water main was installed along Cape Henry Drive (in front of Lesner Inn) and the new 16-inch water main was partially installed along Shore Drive in the eastern approach to the new bridge. Power and communication conduits and duct are currently being installed behind Abutment B (next to the former Duck Inn property) and will be complete by next week (12/18/2015. A new stormwater structure is now being installed on the south side of Cape Henry Drive near the intersection of Vista Circle.
AMI, Inc. in Portsmouth, continues to build the new bridge segments. A total of 90 of the 168 bridge segments have been cast.
A word of driver caution: As we deliver the segments to the project site or to the gantry, Virginia Beach Police will temporarily stop traffic at the Shore Drive/East Stratford Street Intersection for a few minutes to assist the segment delivery trucks in safely crossing this intersection. These deliveries are not on a set schedule, but will generally occur between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 pm M-F and on some Saturdays, so be careful as you approach this intersection.
Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:
Ø Deliver and load the gantry with the span 3 bridge segments
Ø Install the temporary post-tensioning bars and epoxy the span 3 segments
Ø Install and post-tension the permanent tendons through the bridge segments in span 3 of 10 of the westbound bridge
Ø Complete the concrete placement for the footing in Pier 5
Ø Form and place the concrete in the column for Pier #6
Ø Install the 16-inch water main in the new bridge approach along Shore Drive between Abutment B and the tie-in at Page Avenue
Ø Complete the MSE wall and temporary wire wall on the east side of the bridge along the former Duck Inn property
Have a Wonderful and Safe Holiday Season!
– Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Project 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
A review process is under way to select a piece of public art that will be erected on an overlook to the new Lesner Bridge. Details about the art, for which the Virginia Beach Arts Foundation has received more than 60 inquiries and opportunities to donate toward the project will be made later. The idea of having a piece of public art on display is part of the city’s commitment to enhance this vital gateway to the city. More information should be available in January.
(parking in back, on side streets and across Shore Drive)
Program/Presentation – None
Officer’s Reports Secretary – David Williams; Treasurer’s Report -Kathy Pawlak; Vice President – Wally Damon; President – Todd Solomon
Old Business-
Lesner Bridge Update – Project update from City Project Manager Chris Wojtowicz.
Friends of Live Oaks (FOLO) – Update from FOLO meeting, results from discussion regarding the creation of a Live Oak Task Force. Also, FOLO is planning a tree give-away this Fall. Contact Lindsay Konchuba at LKonchub@vbgov.com if interested.
New Business –
Shore Drive Phase III Presentation – Mr. Jason Wilson, City Project Manager, will provide a presentation on SD Phase III at the January 25th, 2016 SDCC meeting. Mr. Wilson will discuss the projects plans for road, bike, pedestrian and storm water improvements. As with all the SDCC meetings, this is open to the public, so please invite all those that would be interested.
Bayfront Advisory Commission News – 98 tons of sand transferred from Lessner Bridge Boat Ramp site to Chic’s Beach to help repair beach accesses. Safety poles will be returned to merge lane heading east as you come off North Hampton onto Shore Drive. They were temporarily removed to allow oversized sections of new bridge to be delivered.
Community Concerns – Does your neighborhood/condo have any issues that have come up that need help or may be a warning to others?
Upcoming Civic Opportunities – Local and Citywide
VB Arena Proposal – Deadline to submit comments online at VB Virtual Town Hall is Wed. Dec. 2nd at 11:59pm. Council is scheduled to vote on Tues Dec. 8th.
Next SDCC Meeting – Monday December 21st (week early due to holidays)
#WeLoveShoreDrive 