Check out this letter from our Mayor Sesoms to Bob McDonnell, just click the link to open:
Shore Drive News – 12/5/2012
Shore Drive News
Civic Engagement Opportunities:
Wednesday December 5, 2012 – (Sorry for the late notice, call Kim if you are interested) First Landing State Park Volunteer Orientation Class from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Click here for more information. Wednesday December 12, 2012 – City of Virginia Beach Libraries to host a National Issues Forum on the role of Higher Education in today’s society. If you would like to particpate in this small group discussion check out the link for more details. Click here for more information. Monday December 31, 2012 – Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization (HRTPO) is asking for citizens to take an online survey to help with their long range planning. Click here for more information.
Shore Drive Concerns:
Storm Water and Flooding Issues – Lynnhaven Colony Civic League held a meeting with City Staff to discuss the flooding in their neighborhood and the City’s plans for a long term $80 million solution. Read the Virginian Pilot artilce here. Click here for more information. Storm Water and Flooding Issues – Deputy City Manager Dave Hansen provided an email discussing the City’s plans to continue engineering studies of the areas east of the Lesner Bridge and to provide a report to the citizens by April 2013. Immediate solutions similar to the one used in Ocean Park may or may not be possible east of the Lesner. Read Mr. Hansen’s email here. Click here for more information LED Traffic Lights on Shore Drive – Three signs on Shore Drive and all of them had conmments and concerns from citizens. Bayfront Advisory Committee and Shore Drive Community Coalition were not part of the 2012 City’s internal stakeholder meeting. Read the Virginian Pilot’s editoral regarding these signs and the process. Click here for more information.
Big plans await Virginia Beach’s Lynnhaven Inlet
> Media> News Stories
 Kristin Mazur, project manager for the Norfolk District Lynnhaven Inlet Jetties Navigation Project with the city of Virginia Beach, Va., explains the federal interest determination study process and timetable, Oct. 19, 2012, to add a 1,000-foot jetty in front of the Lesner Bridge. (Photo by Pamela Spaugy) Related Content Related Story Lesner Bridge Replacement Big plans await Virginia Beach’s Lynnhaven InletPosted 10/23/2012
By Gerald Rogers Norfolk District Public Affairs Office VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – In a continuing effort to reduce annual costs associated with maintaining federal navigation channels in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is conducting a federal interest determination study at the entrance of the Lynnhaven Inlet. The federal study will determine if jetties or a combination of coastal structures is cost-effective in reducing critical shoaling and annual costs of maintaining the navigation channel, as well as reducing damages incurred on structures in the channel due to continuous wave action. Each year, the Lynnhaven Inlet, located on the Chesapeake Bay within the city of Virginia Beach, Va., requires annual dredging of dangerous shoaling and full maintenance-dredging about every three years. The navigation project provides access to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean for commercial fishing vessels, charter fishing boats, head boats, provides access for pilots who support the deep draft navigation channels as well as a wide variety of recreational vessels, said Kristin Mazur, project manager for Norfolk District. “The inlet is used by the pilot boats for both the Virginia and Maryland stations based inside the inlet to transport pilots from their dock to deep draft ships entering the Chesapeake Bay,” Mazur said. Once a determination is made that there is federal interest, Mazur will gain approval from the North Atlantic Division office and execute a signed Federal Cost Sharing Agreement with the local sponsor. “Next, we’ll study a number of coastal structural alternatives, using newfound and previously documented data that helps us develop an economically justified, engineering feasible and environmentally acceptable plan,” Mazur said. The Lynnhaven Inlet Jetties Federal Navigation Project is a Continuing Authorities Program, or CAP, Section 107 Navigation Project, authorized by the River and Harbor Act of Oct. 23, 1962. At the request of local interests, Corps assistance in developing and implementing solutions to water resources problems is available under one of two Congressional authorities. Problems which are large in scope require specific Congressional authorization; however, in instances where problems are generally “small” in scope, the Corps may act directly and more quickly under its Continuing Authorities Program. Once the feasibility study is completed, Mazur’s project delivery team will prepare a Detailed Project Report that captures all data and recommendations, including proposed cost-sharing of project design and construction with the project’s co-sponsor, the city of Virginia Beach. “Right now we anticipate a 50-50 cost share participation with the local sponsor, the city of Virginia Beach and the federal government, for the feasibility study,” Mazur said. “The first $100,000 of the costs, which is used for determining the proposed project’s federal interest, is 100 percent federally funded.” Meantime, the city of Virginia Beach is developing plans to replace the old Lesner Bridge, which spans the Lynnhaven Inlet off of the Chesapeake Bay. Though recent rehabilitation and current maintenance have extended the life of the bridge, the harsh marine environment has caused extensive corrosion to portions of the existing bridge and made it structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. The proposed twin replacement bridges will each feature a 53-foot eight-inch wide deck that will accommodate two lanes of traffic, with appropriate shoulders on each side and a multi-use path in each direction. Frank Boterdo, a resident of Virginia Beach and a U.S. Navy retiree, fishes along the Lynnhaven Inlet beachfront. “The bridge definitely needs replacement, and I hope the Corps’ plans to reduce shoaling in the inlet won’t drive the fish away,” Boterdo said. “I’ve been fishing this waterway for years and the fish are plentiful. If your study ends up better protecting the shoreline from erosion and our ability to fish, then that’s a great improvement.” The Lynnhaven Inlet Jetties Federal Navigation Project will include a comprehensive environmental assessment that addresses all compliance issues required by the National Environmental Policy Act, The Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act. Once the city’s plans are finalized for the new Lesner Bridge, Mazur said, her team will be better positioned to determine and recommend which types of coastal structures will most benefit the new Lynnhaven Inlet footprint.
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Continuing Activities ProgramUpdate from the City about the impending N’or Easter (Nov 6th and 7th)
Here’s a “positive” update from the City about the impending N’or Easter.
Terry Gearhart
OPCL/Membership
Mark’s update below is welcomed news – storm lessening in our reach and moving to the east. The graph projections reflect the following:
1. 6-7 low-high tide cycles greater than normal based on a surge of @ 1 -2 feet. In the Lynnhaven we could see tidal flooding up to elevation 3 feet above sea level (as a benchmark Sandy flooded to elevation 6 feet above sea level). Expect this to create some water on the usual low elevation roads.
2. Winds will remain subtropical and come from the north for most of the storm: sustained reaching the low 20’s mph and gusts to the low 30’s. Most intense period is Wednesday 5AM thru 6PM.
3. Rain will commence this afternoon with off and on squalls with chance of intensifying from midnight tonight thru 5PM Wednesday evening. Not expecting rainfall amounts to be much over an inch in the heaviest areas.
4. Wave height projections are: Atlantic Ocean Front @ 6-8 feet and the Chesapeake Bay Beaches @ 4-5 feet.
5. Duration will be @ 36 hrs beginning this early evening and lasting thru Thursday early morning.
We do not expect to activate the VB EOC if these projections hold. I would also expect the City to function on normal operating conditions during this weather event. Staff is working to complete preparations where warranted before COB today.
GRAND ILLUMINATION OF THE HISTORIC CAPE HENRY LIGHTHOUSE
We will hold the Grand Illumination of the Historic Cape Henry Lighthouse this year on 30 Nov at 5 p.m. The event will be open to the public this year. Please share this Info.
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thanks!
Scott Mohr Public Affairs Officer Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story 2600 Tarawa Ct., Ste. 100 Virginia Beach, VA 23459-3297 Phone: (757) 462-8425 Cell: (757) 438-3913 Fax: (757) 462-8160 Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JEBLCFS
New Fire Station near Ocean Park (Greenwell & Shore Dr.)
The construction at Greenwell and Shore Drive is for the new LEED certified Fire Station.
| City of Virginia Beach, VA | |
| Public Works | |
| Capital Project Detail Sheet | |
| 3.244.000: Fire and Rescue Station – Chesapeake Beach |
| Description and Scope | ||||
| CIP Section: | Buildings | CIP Status: | Approved | Active |
| Project Type: | Replacement | First Year in CIP: | ||
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| City District(s): | Bayside | |||
| This project replaces the existing 9,760 square foot facility supporting 4 Fire and 2-to-5 Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel, 1 fire engine and 1 ambulance on a daily basis, and various other pieces of equipment that are infrequently used (ranging from fire trucks to zodiac boats). The existing facility has 2 drive through bays (2 vehicle capacity each) and 3 front load only bays (1 vehicle capacity each). The replacement will be a more efficient 3-bay facility ranging from 13,800 to 14,200 square feet based on the General Booth and Sandbridge stations. Cost estimates were based on 14,000 square feet. The replacement facility will house both Fire and EMS personnel and equipment. The new site will be at the intersection of Shore Drive and Northampton Boulevard. This facility is priority 10 on the City’s Top 13 Facility Replacement Priority list. | ||||
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New Electronic Sign on Shore drive
The sign that just popped up supported by the large silver pole instead of a black pole is part of the Virginia Beach Dynamic Message Signs and System Detector Project. The construction at Greenwell and Shore Drive is for the new LEED certified Fire Station.
Virginia Beach Dynamic Message Signs and System Detector Project
An email about the electronic signs:
The Virginia Beach Dynamic Message Signs and System Detector Project will consist of the installation of 11 motorists advisory Dynamic Message Signs (DMS), overhead sign support structures, equipment cabinets, and communication equipment. The DMS’s will have three line displays. Each line will consist of 12 inch height, LED (Light Emitting Diode) characters. The DMS’s will be installed at eight locations within the City. The DMS’s will be installed at the following locations:
1. Princess Anne Rd and Elson Green Ave, southbound 2. General Booth Blvd at the KOA Campground, northbound 3. Shore Dr and First Landing State Park, westbound 4. Shore Dr and Bayville Rd, back to back DMS’s – photo above 5. Northampton Blvd and Bayside Rd, eastbound 6. Northampton Blvd and Shell Rd, westbound 7. Independence Blvd and Wakefield Dr, back to back DMS’s 8. Shore Dr near 83rd St, back to back DMS’s
The project will also include the installation of two types of vehicle detectors. The vehicle detectors will consist of wireless transmitters, and micro loop sensors. The detectors will be installed at 46 locations within the City. Vehicle detector communication equipment will be installed in the existing traffic signal cabinets. There will also be the installation of one CCTV camera on this project. All of the project equipment will be configured to communicate with the City of Virginia Beach Traffic Management Center.
The DMS’s will convey traffic condition information to the roadway motorists. The vehicle detectors will be capable of instantaneously detecting changes in traffic flow patterns. With the construction of this project, the Traffic Management Center will add to its capability of facilitating the application of technology and engineering, to managing traffic, and disseminating traffic related information to the motoring public.
Spay & Neuter and vaccination event
We are reaching out to Civic Leagues in the Hampton Roads area to get the word out about a special appearance our Neuter Scooter will be making at Second Chance Thrift Store. We realize people get busy, can’t find the time, or have just plan forgotten to spay and neuter their animals. We are hoping that this may give them an opportunity to do so. If you will print the information out and/or email to the appropriate touch points. It is a cash only spay/neuter day and we hope people might take advantage of the great price as well! Please have interested persons call 323-SPAY!
Thank you!
Christina Guzman
Christina Guzmán
Public Relations & Outreach Director
Virginia Beach SPCA
3040 Holland Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
427-0070 Ext. 41
Be a lifesaver. Adopt from The Virginia Beach SPCA or Donate Now – https://donate.vbspca.org/Donate.asp
Lesner Bridge updates…
Public Notices for Permitting
The Corps of Engineers, DEQ, VMRC, and Coast Guard are advertising public notices for the construction permit on this project. The Corps of Engineers public notice has already been advertised and can be found at: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Media/PublicNotices.aspx We know there has been some concern about the City putting in a bulkhead at the boat ramp site. We just want the BAC and the Shore Drive community to understand that the current public notices are for the construction of the Lesner Bridge only. This will include a temporary bulkhead at the boat ramp. Any effort made to change the scope of the construction permit (e.g., make the temporary bulkhead permanent) will require a separate application and approval from the permitting agencies. We want to be clear with the BAC and the Shore Drive community that this current application is only for the construction needs of the bridge project. This is consistent with the approach that we discussed with the BAC and the SDCC in early 2012.
Drilled Shaft Load Test at the Boat Ramp
Our design team is currently mobilizing a contractor to perform a drilled shaft load test. This effort will consist of drilling a 4’ diameter hole approximately 110’ deep, placing reinforcing steel, and backfilling with concrete. Once the concrete has cured, the contractor will jack against the drilled shaft until it fails. This test will give us actual field information about how well the drilled shaft will perform. With this information, we can finish the foundation design for the bridge using the most economical drilled shaft design. You will likely see the contractor on site starting next week. We just wanted to make you aware of this in case there are any questions from the community.
Project Manager Change
Chris Wojtowicz is taking over this project for Toni Alger. Toni is still in our group, however she was selected for a supervisor position and her duties have expanded beyond managing projects. Chris is getting up to speed and will be taking care of the day to day responsibilities. Chris has been doing a great job managing the Laskin Gateway project and will bring a lot of experience to the table as we get closer to construction. I will still be involved and available for questions as well so we will have continuity during this transition.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please let us know.
David S. Jarman, P.E.
Transportation Project Management Supervisor
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach
757-385-4144 (direct)
757-385-4131 (main)
Fishing nets on our beach. See Pilot-Online Story
Even though the link goes to a story that is about a year old, the article does a good job of explaining what’s going on with the truck and fishing nets on our beach.
http://hamptonroads.com/2011/09/virginia-beach-residents-see-no-appeal-fishing-nets
Ocean Park Civic League 