Williamsburg - Route 199 Barriers

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

We are just finishing up a trip at Marriott Manor Club tomorrow and I have one nagging question. (the crazy person in me as my husband would say). When traveling Route 199 all the on and off ramps have red and white bars that can be put down to prohibit driving on the ramps. What baffles me is they are at the top and the bottom of each ramp and each ramp from the highway has wrong way signage at the top of each onramp.....but these are ramps that would have no way of being approached the wrong way.

My only idea is they shut down the highway at some point and then use it the wrong way????

Any know why....this inquiring mind needs to know.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Hurricane (evacuation) gates I-64 & Rt 199

Since 2006, from Exit 200 (Interstate 295) to Exit 273 (U.S. Route 60 east
of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel), a contraflow lane reversal system is
in place to hasten an evacuation of the Hampton Roads area.

Hurricane gates are installed at eastbound I-64 entrance and exit ramps, and crossover roads are in place near the aforementioned exits. During a hurricane evacuation, the eastbound lanes of I-64 will be reversed into westbound lanes so hundreds of thousands of residents can evacuate.

[mdurette Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mdurette]

Now that's a plan!

We are coastal New England with the Atantic about 5 miles away and don't even have signs for evacuation.

Thanks for the info. Makes perfect sense now.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

We just checked into Powhatan yesterday, and had exactly the same question!

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

Marti thread was 100% correct.

[10AC-TYM Member Find all posts View Profile Close 10AC-TYM]

We are all assigned evacuation routes to follow according to what part of towns you live in. Each of those gates was very expensive to install. Let's hope if we ever have to use them, that they will work.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

We just checked into Powhatan yesterday, and had exactly the same question!

We checked out yesterday - sorry to have missed you. I hope the temp is a little better for you. It was close to 110 all week. Enjoy your stay. We love it there!

[jlwquilter Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jlwquilter]

We also had that question! We guessed it was due in some way to the local (??) military base. Guess not!

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

We've been going to Williamsburg for about 7 or 8 years and always wondered why the gates were there. We thought that perhaps during the off-season, some of the routes were closed off to traffic. Though we've vacationed during Hurricane season, we've never given any thought about evacuation plans. I would hope that if such a need arose, the TS staff would point us in the right direction and not simply abandon the place.

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

Hampton roads hurricane traffic control plan

There is an evacuation plan:
http://www.vdem.state.va.us/library/plans/hurrplan/12%20-%20Annex%20C%20COVEOP%20HERP%202006.pdf

Similar to fire escape routes, it is in your best interest to be aware ahead of time.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

There is an evacuation plan:
http://www.vdem.state.va.us/library/plans/hurrplan/12%20-%20Annex%20C%20COVEOP%20HERP%202006.pdf

Similar to fire escape routes, it is in your best interest to be aware ahead of time.

Thanks for the info. I have printed it out and will put it with the packet I keep for Williamsburg vacations. Hopefully we won't ever have to use it!

[RESORT2ME Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close RESORT2ME]

I too hope. We live here and feel we have a handle on this. However, I know there will be the unknown to contend with once gates are lowered. It is "fun" to run to various points while keeping in mind that major corridors are packed or not accessible.

I suggest studying not only the obvious, but also alternate routes. For example: how to navigate streets of Williamsburg leading to Route 5 without getting on Route 199. That will seem a maze until you actually practice it.

Remember, during an evacuation, entry onto 199 and I-64 may be blocked in the interest of the many.
Not knowing where you may wish to be while visiting the area, study how to get to 5, 60 and 17 from the places you feel you usually frequent.

What's more, with everyone trying to depart, some streets will not allow "opposite direction" traffic. You better hope you don't need to pick up someone from the wrong location once the evac has started.

One nice thing about hurricanes, we have several days advanced notice.
Keep cognisant of the weather and have a plan.

Enjoy Williamsburg.

Thanks for the info. I have printed it out and will put it with the packet I keep for Williamsburg vacations. Hopefully we won't ever have to use it!