Virginia Beach, Va., is a well-known center of dining, entertainment and hotels for residents and visitors alike. It is also famous for its oceanfront, with its famous 3-mile boardwalk, the Rudee Inlet marina area, beaches perfect for swimming or surfing and shopping along Atlantic Avenue. With the oceanfront as a destination for those both visiting and living in Virginia Beach, it is important the area is properly maintained.

In preparation for the summer season, the city has completed a variety of repair work around the area. The city has replaced 836 feet of sidewalk and repaired 18 potholes, which required 4 tons of asphalt. One ADA ramp has been replaced. Three tons of crusher-run material was used to repair a damaged road shoulder. Two asphalt pavement repairs were completed, requiring 13 tons of asphalt. Traffic signal maintenance was performed on 43 traffic signals. On Parks Avenue, as cars exit the interstate eastbound, two radar-controlled speed signs were installed. Contract requests have also been submitted for a refresh of the pavement markings on General Booth Boulevard — from Harbor Point Road to the Virginia Aquarium — and a refresh of the crosswalks and double yellow lines on Atlantic Avenue between Fifth Street and 40th Street.

Multiple improvement projects are also underway for the area. The Atlantic Park public-private development involves a mixed-use, multi-venue entertainment complex on the former Dome site that can be used year-round. The site for this complex takes up 10.35 acres across three blocks of oceanfront between 18th Street and 20th Street. In November 2019, this development agreement between Virginia Beach Development Authority and Venture Realty Group for $335 million was approved by the city council. The development will include retail stores, office space, multi-family housing and two parking garages. The parking garages are currently under construction and are planned to open in 2025.

Some of the greatest draws to Atlantic Park will be the 4.2-acre Wavegarden surf park with a 2.68-acre surf lagoon and related facilities. The indoor-outdoor entertainment venue will also be a draw with seating for 3,500 indoors and 1,500 outdoors. Private financing in the amount of $210 million, along with a city contribution of approximately $125 million, will fund this large improvement project. The city’s contribution will come from the Tourism Investment Program fund and be used toward the entertainment venue called The Dome, parking and off-site infrastructure, such as duct banks, traffic signals, pedestrian crossings and streetscapes.

The ViBe Creative District also has infrastructure improvement projects planned. In 2020, 19th Street was changed from a four-lane road with narrow sidewalks to a three-lane multimodal streetscape with on-street parking. The street is well-known for its paver intersections designed by artists and neighborhood identifiers that stand 9 feet tall. Improvements to 18th Street have begun and are anticipated to be completed in June 2024. These include new sidewalks, pedestrian lighting, on-street parking, crosswalks, upgrades to increase accessibility, bicycle facilities, landscaping as well as stormwater, traffic and utility improvements.

The 17th Street project is important due to it providing a direct connection to the oceanfront from the west. Two phases are planned for this project. Phase one will focus on improving and upgrading connectivity and aesthetics from Pacific Avenue to Cypress Avenue. Phase two will focus on Cypress Avenue to Birdneck Road. This project is anticipated to begin construction in the fall of 2025.

The construction of a permanent hard top for the 31st Street stage at Neptune Park is a current project with completion set for May 2024. Improvements along Winston Salem Avenue are meant to improve pedestrian access and connectivity along Mediterranean Avenue, Rudee Loop Walkway and Pacific Avenue. It will create a 9-foot sidewalk on the south side of the street and a continuous 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the north side. Overhead utilities will be placed underground, and new water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure will be installed. It will also focus on improving lighting, adding street trees and providing on-street parking on the north side of the street. Construction on this project is planned to begin in 2024.

Atlantic Avenue is also set to undergo improvements with a focus on improving and widening the sidewalks; creating dedicated bike lanes; upgrading benches, planters, newsstands, bike racks and trash receptacles along the sidewalk; improving the street trees and plants; ensuring there are consistent signage and lighting; and adding opportunities for art. This project is anticipated to begin in 2025.

Improvements are being completed in the central resort district to improve drainage. As one of the oldest areas in Virginia Beach, this district experiences stormwater flooding because of low-lying areas, minimum storm drain pipe capacity, tidal flooding, high peak flows and low runoff volumes. This project will involve multiple phases to improve drainage, including collection improvement, stormwater pump stations, ocean outfall systems and tidal backflow prevention devices. Another project will include improvements along three existing culverts from 24th Street to the surrounding area of the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art. Its focus will be on improving capacity for stormwater delivery to a proposed pump station on Beach Garden Park and reducing the hydraulic grade line. Another project will work on redirecting some stormwater from 21^st Street and Baltic Avenue to the 16th Street pump station to prevent flooding during high tides and moderate rainfall.

As a tourist city, Virginia Beach takes beautification efforts seriously. “Recently we moved three massive and heavy sculptures of turtles from a storage facility near Camp Pendleton to 32nd Street on the boardwalk,” Jessica Gilera, Virginia Beach deputy director of communications and marketing operations, stated. Last year, 3,952 perennials and 23,349 annuals were planted throughout various locations along the oceanfront area. City teams also mulch the boardwalk twice a year.

The Tourist Investment Program fund has helped to make projects possible, such as resurfacing a basketball court, leveling sidewalk trip hazards and installing new guardrails and bollards. This fund also helped to purchase pressure washing equipment that helps to keep the boardwalk clean.

Gilera reiterated, “There was no shortage of projects to tackle coming out of COVID. The city has been able to move forward in making significant progress despite staffing shortages and supply line delays that most municipalities faced when emerging from the pandemic. Residents and guests frequently comment on the improvements and look forward to the coming capital projects in the capital improvement program queue.”

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