VDOT News - Hampton Roads

SUFFOLK - A project to divert water from seeping up from the ground and onto the roadway of the I-664/Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel (MMMBT) was completed early and has proven successful in significantly reducing the problem for motorists and maintenance crews.

Drivers have long encountered wet pavement at the entrances and exits of the MMMBT because of groundwater seepage. In addition to being a nuisance for the public, the wet pavement contributed to potholes and required VDOT to treat the roadway during cold weather to keep it from freezing.

VDOT engineers designed a solution that redirects seeping water before it reaches the surface of the road and diverts it to the tunnel's existing drainage system.

Curtis Contracting began the joint work in February and finished in early May, more than a week ahead of the project's scheduled completion date. Inspectors have since found no evidence of water seepage returning to the roadway.

VDOT plans to re-pave the areas near the tunnel's openings at a later date.

A view of some of the dry joints at one of the open-cut sections of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel on May 7, 2019. A project to divert groundwater seepage at the bridge-tunnel was completed in early May, more than a week ahead of schedule. (Dave Forster/VDOT)

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.