The Martin Luther King Freeway Extension, a new elevated roadway that connects the Midtown and Downtown tunnels in Portsmouth, Va., has opened a month ahead of its scheduled opening date.
Signs at each ramp and along Interstate 264 were uncovered Tuesday evening in preparation.
Construction of the $300 million, mile-long expressway began in November 2013. It extends the Rte. 164 Martin Luther King Freeway in Portsmouth from London Boulevard to I-264, providing a direct route for motorists between the Downtown and Midtown tunnels.
Digital message signs installed near the entrance points to the expressway on I-264 and Rte. 164 will communicate traffic conditions in real time, allowing commuters to make informed decisions on their chosen route .
Officials expect about 27,000 cars a day to use the Expressway.
This marks the second time Elizabeth River Crossing, the private company that manages tunnels and the expressway, has completed a project ahead of schedule. The new Midtown Tunnel tube opened in June, nearly six months ahead of schedule.
