DriveERT is about connecting the communities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. The updated Midtown and Downtown tunnels and MLK Expressway bring safer, more efficient transportation to the region.Improving connectivity between Norfolk and Portsmouth has been a top priority for the Hampton Roads region for many years. The Elizabeth River Tunnels project, managed by Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo, LLC along with the Virginia Department of Transportation, made crucial advancements to the Midtown and Downtown tunnels as well as the MLK Expressway. Elizabeth River Crossings OpCo, LLC continues to operate and maintain thesefacilitiestoday.In order to fund the project, VDOT and ERC OpCo, LLC entered into a 58-year public-private partnership (P3), which allowed the funding for the tunnels and road improvements to be provided in advance. This included a mandate that the funds would be paid back over several decades through the collection of tolls. Without this funding, the existing tunnels and roadway...
