Convention Center Boulevard Ribbon Cutting CeremonyDecember 15, 2006On Thursday, December 21 at 4:00 p.m. Hampton residents, city staff, and local business leaders will celebrate the opening of Convention Center Boulevard. The new road offers a direct traffic thoroughfare from Armistead Avenue to the Hampton Roads Convention Center, providing even greater access for residents and visitors to this important part of the city. In the late 1990s, planning was underway for the Hampton Roads Convention Center and related developments. Due to the additional traffic that would be generated by these developments, a second entrance to the area was desired, and planners created the Convention Center Boulevard project in its current form. In early 2000, design plans were prepared for the improvements along Armistead Avenue and Convention Center Boulevard. By working closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), the City was able to obtain approximately $3 million in additional funding for the project from Local Partnership Funds, which allowed previous State Urban funding to be reallocated for other city projects. In addition, the Convention Center Boulevard project was the first locally administered project constructed under a partnership arrangement with VDOT's First Cities Program. This program allows localities to manage road construction projects with their own staff. Convention Center Boulevard is designed with five travel lanes. For large events lane directions can be changed to allow up to four incoming or outgoing lanes to handle large traffic volumes. The City is now preparing to advertise for bids for the next phase of the Armistead Avenue improvements, which will include upgrades of Armistead Avenue from Pine Chapel Road to Mercury Boulevard. The City also anticipates beginning construction on improvements to Coliseum Drive from Mercury Boulevard to Pine Chapel Road. Directions to Convention Center Boulevard: From I-64 East
From I-64 West
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