RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is seeking conceptual proposals from private companies to form a public-private partnership to make an estimated $1 billion in improvements to the Downtown Tunnel\Midtown Tunnel\MLK Freeway Extension between Norfolk and Portsmouth in the Hampton Roads area.

The corridor improvements call for the design and construction of a parallel Midtown Tunnel; extension of the MLK Freeway between I-264 and London Boulevard; and improvements to the existing Midtown and Downtown tunnels.

Conceptual proposals are due to VDOT September 29, 2008. VDOT plans to move to a solicitation for detailed proposals in the summer of 2009, award a contract by 2010 and complete construction by 2015.

The partnership would form under the Public-Private Transportation Act (PPTA) of 1995 which allows private companies to finance, design, build, operate and maintain infrastructure projects in partnership with state and local governments. There are currently no public funds committed for the corridor improvements, and the entire project will be financed through tolls, including the Midtown and Downtown tunnels.

Earlier this month, more than 100 people turned out for a public hearing to discuss the MLK Freeway Extension component of the project.

During the PPTA process, the general public will have opportunities to review project progress, potential toll rates and various project alternatives. The project will be designed to allow consideration of future transit and rail connections between Norfolk and Portsmouth.

For more information about the solicitation, go to http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/hamptonroads/downtown_tunnel-midtown_tunnel-mlk_extension.asp.

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Page last modified: June 3, 2008