/ News / Virginia Transportation Secretary Layne Joins Elizabeth River Crossings and SKW Constructors to Celebrate Completion of Elizabeth River Tunnels Project with Ribbon Cutting and 5K Run

Virginia Transportation Secretary Layne Joins Elizabeth River Crossings and SKW Constructors to Celebrate Completion of Elizabeth River Tunnels Project with Ribbon Cutting and 5K Run

Parul Dubey on August 9, 2017 - in News, Projects

Virginia Transportation Secretary Layne joins Elizabeth River Crossings and SKW Constructors to Celebrate Completion of Elizabeth River Tunnels Project with Ribbon Cutting and 5K Run

 

WHAT:              Elizabeth River Crossings (ERC) and SKW Constructors (the Skanska-led construction joint venture of Skanska, Kiewit Construction and Weeks Marine), will celebrate the completion of the design-build phase of the Elizabeth River Tunnels (ERT) project, spanning Portsmouth and Norfolk, VA. The on-site event will include a ribbon cutting ceremony featuring Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne, and ERC’s 2nd Annual Midtown Tunnel 5K (MTT5K) run through the new Midtown Tunnel. This event commemorates the successful conclusion of construction, one year ahead of schedule, of a project that is providing Hampton Roads residents with a safer, easier commute on a critical thoroughfare. 

The ERT project is comprised of a new two-lane tunnel under the Elizabeth River parallel to the existing Midtown Tunnel; fire, life and safety modifications and upgrades to the existing Midtown Tunnel and Downtown Tunnels; interchange modifications in Norfolk and Portsmouth; and extending the MLK Expressway in Portsmouth from London Boulevard to I-264. 

The two-tunnel configuration and enhanced access roads provide urgently needed additional capacity. The region’s population has increased nearly 70 percent and tunnel usage has gone up by 600 percent since construction of the existing tunnels. The completed project has already alleviated congestion issues and saves the average round-trip commuter 30 minutes a day.

Members of the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), SKW Constructors, ERC and local officials will be in attendance for the ceremonies. Media will be able to capture footage of the ribbon cutting ceremony, hear from Secretary Layne, SKW Constructors and local representatives about why this project is so important to the Hampton Roads community. They can also record the 5K run that takes runners through the Midtown Tunnel, which will remain closed for the duration of the run. 

 

Headquartered in Norfolk, Virginia, Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo, LLC, (ERC) is the private partner of the Virginia Department of Transportation for the design, construction, finance, operations and maintenance of the Elizabeth River Tunnels (Downtown Tunnel/Midtown Tunnel/MLK Extension) Project.

 

WHO:             Representatives available for interviews following the ceremony will include:

                        –Commonwealth of Virginia: Aubrey Layne, Secretary of Transportation

                        –Portsmouth: John Rowe, Jr., Mayor

                        –Norfolk:  Dr. Theresa Whibley, Vice Mayor

                        –ERC: Philip Shucet, CEO

                        –SKW: Wade Watson, Project Director

 

WHERE:            Elizabeth River Crossings Headquarters

152 Tunnel Facility Drive

Portsmouth, VA 23707

          

WHEN:             Saturday, August 26, 6:30 – 10:00 a.m

                          –Ribbon cutting: 7:00 a.m.

                          –5K race: 7:30 a.m.

                          –Race awards ceremony: 8:30 a.m.

 

PHOTO/VIDEO OPPS:   Members of the press will be able to get b-roll and photos of the ribbon cutting ceremony, speeches, 5K run, and have one-on-one interviews with Secretary Layne and project representatives in attendance. 

 

PARKING:        On-site parking is available.

 

MEDIA 

RSVPs:             Please RSVP to Mittie Rooney at  [email protected] or 301-602-8709, by Friday, August 25.

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