Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Daniel Evans
Suffolk News Herald

Suffolk may be getting innovative to solve traffic issues on Bridge Rd. at the Harbour View Boulevard intersection.

At its Dec. 4 meeting, the Suffolk City Council reviewed a proposed design for the Harbour View Boulevard interchange, which would feature an “innovative intersection,” a term used by the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Public Works Director Robert Lewis said the proposed design would use a “raised left-turn intersection,” allowing traffic on Route 17 to flow freely without stopping. Traffic turning in and out of Harbour View Boulevard would use a raised structure, reducing the traffic signal from six phases to two to increase efficiency.

Lewis said the idea came after VDOT conducted an arterial preservation study in 2020 that examined Route 17 (Bridge Road) from the I-664 interchange to the James River Bridge. VDOT engaged with 2,500 citizens and received more than 300 public comments as part of the study, which also examined traffic conditions, the history of accidents, and future growth.

Six different configurations were considered.

He showed the council an example of the proposed intersection using Rio Road in Charlottesville.

Lewis said the project would be the next phase of construction ongoing at the Shoulders Hill Road interchange with Route 17. 

He said a public showing and comment session will be held in early 2025 in the Harbour View area to gather citizens’ feedback. 

Councilman Roger Fawcett expressed support for the project, calling it a “long time coming.”

“This is pretty awesome,” Fawcett said. “It can work, and it can really solve a lot of traffic problems … coming off of 17 northbound, and you’ve got the 1-664 traffic coming off, and everybody wants to … get over into the right lane. So you’re playing dodge cars to get over.”

Mayor Mike Duman asked if there would be any concerns with right-of-way acquisition. Lewis said only a small piece of undeveloped property off Harbour View would need to be acquired.

“It’s a rather exciting design,” Duman said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a left-lane flyover.”