Hampton Bids Farewell to Coliseum Central Flyover

June 4, 2007

The first steps of the removal of the large flyover that has been in front of the former Coliseum Mall since 1973 began on Monday, June 4 at 10 a.m. Local leaders, businesses, and citizens took one last walk over the flyover to bid a fond farewell to a staple in the Coliseum Central district.

"The demolition of the flyover is a major representation of the transformation happening in the Coliseum Central district," said Mayor Ross A. Kearney.

Once constructed, the flyover served as the primary entrance to the mall. Today, however, with improved traffic patterns and the changes occurring in the Coliseum Central area, the flyover is no longer necessary for access to what will become the Peninsula Town Center. The mall redevelopment will shift focus from a predominately retail-oriented center to a mixed use environment. The introduction of office and residential space will therefore alter peak traffic volumes.

The removal of the flyover will increase visibility and access to the Peninsula Town Center and other surrounding sites while providing improved pedestrian connections at the intersection. The Coliseum Central Master Plan calls for the transformation of Coliseum Drive to a pedestrian friendly street incorporating sidewalks, landscaping, and buildings. The construction of the first phase of the Coliseum Drive streetscape project, between Pine Chapel Road and Mercury Boulevard, has already begun. The redesign of the Mercury Boulevard-Coliseum Drive interchange is critical in achieving this goal and linking the Coliseum Central District.

The new design of the interchange will not only improve traffic flow, but create pedestrian connections in the district. Residents and visitors will be able to easily walk to and from the area's major projects, such as the Peninsula Town Center, Hampton Roads Convention Center, H2O Residential Community, Power Plant, Newmarket Creek Park, and Sentara.