On Halloween 2024, the stories that surround Virginia Beach's Elbow Road feel a bit less eerie. Over the past few weeks, crews have removed a large number of trees along the corridor as part of a widening project that began in September.
The cleared trees stood where a new bridge over the North Landing River will be built. Dustin Kwok, project manager for the City of Virginia Beach, said the next phase will follow the clearing. "The next step after they clear it they're going to be building some temporary access points," he said.
Work on the bridge itself is set to start sometime next year. City officials describe the whole effort as a way to make the road safer.
Residents who live nearby say the change has been a long time coming. Jose Callangan, who lives off Elbow Road, said he has felt for almost 30 years that improvements were on the way. Now, he said, the difference is starting to show. Even so, he admitted to some regret about the lost greenery. "I miss all the trees that were cut down," he said.
Callangan said safety problems on the road are routine. "Almost every week, somebody gets into the ditch," he said. He recalled his own close call while riding a Vespa, when a driver clipped his handlebar. He was able to keep going, but he heard a crash behind him and looked back to see that the other vehicle had ended up in a ditch.
He also said some crashes on the road have been deadly over the years. He pointed to a one-car accident involving a girl of 16 or 17 that happened at the very end of a corner near where he was speaking.
Under the plan, Elbow Road will grow from two lanes to four. An 8-foot multi-use path will also be added on both sides of the road. Callangan said he hopes the changes will cut down on crashes and discourage speeding.
Crews are expected to keep clearing the section near the bridge through the end of November. The full project is still on track for completion in 2028.
