As those who live in the Norfolk/Virginia Beach region know, there is no shortage of water in this area. Everywhere you look, rivers, canals, and lakes abound. Of course, along with the aesthetic benefits of water’s beauty comes the modern drawback — traffic stops generated by tunnels and bridges. I took the picture below the other day as I was stopped at the Monitor-Merrimac Tunnel while they conducted some emergency road maintenance.
I was lucky with this tunnel stop, as it was one of the “good” traffic stops — I only waited about ten minutes here before traffic started moving again. If there is a major accident in the tunnel, which happens several times a week (sometimes, several times a day), you can wait for hours or even be rerouted to another tunnel, which is about 45 minutes out of your way (IF you don’t run into any other traffic on the way there). Making matters even worse, the “powers that be” only make the rerouting decision after you’ve been sitting at the entrance to your original tunnel at least an hour — which can make you almost two hours late for work. I used to take the Monitor-Merrimac Tunnel every day as part of my regular commute, and I was stuck at one of these major traffic tie-ups about once a month. So, it’s not something that affects you every day, but when it happens, it’s monumentally frustrating.
The drawbridges in the area provide a more constant and daily (or hourly) source of exasperation. Unfortunately, at certain of this area’s many drawbridges (Steel Bridge, I’m looking at you!), you can wait upwards of thirty/forty minutes at a bridge opening before traffic starts moving again. Then, once you can actually move your car, you’d better hurry because the bridge is likely to open again in another 15 minutes. It’s beyond frustrating, and although I love the beauty of the natural environment here, you pay a heavy price for it in terms of every day traffic.
