Va. Beach seeks input on improving 17th Street
VIRGINIA BEACH — If you’ve traveled in a vehicle, ridden a bike or walked down 17th Street at the Oceanfront, you’ve probably navigated one or more logistical issues. Narrow lanes and flooding are just a couple of the road’s deficiencies.
“You’re driving kind of in the gutter pan, the sidewalks don’t connect everywhere or are crumbling here and there,” said Emily Archer, urban designer for the city.
City planners are tackling t he problems by designing an improved 17th Street corridor, and they want the public’s input through an online survey.
“It is time for its rehabilitation,” Archer said.
The east end of Virginia Beach Boulevard from Cypress to Pacific avenues — commonly referred to as 17th Street — will be widened, stormwater and other utility infrastructure will be upgraded and new sidewalks and bicycle lanes are planned.
Input from the survey and future public meetings will help planners get a better understanding of the community’s needs and to prioritize the amenities.
“We always want public input to make sure we aren’t designing something that won’t be beneficial to most of the users of the corridor,” said Denis Ozowara, the city’s project manager.
The project will cost $26 million. Construction will begin in 2022 and take about four years to complete. After that, Cypress Avenue to Birdneck Road will be improved.
Citizens are invited to watch a recorded webinar on the project and take the survey through today at https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/sga/projects/Pages/17th-Street-Improvements.aspx.