VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach drivers will have to navigate orange cones and closed road signs for a year longer on Laskin Road.
Tim Kelley, a spokesman with Virginia's Department of Transportation, told 13News Now the Laskin Road project's completion date is delayed until 2025.
It's the second time this major road project has been pushed back, as crews originally hoped to have work completed by the Spring of 2023.
"Discussions with the contractor are currently ongoing regarding the project’s estimated schedule, and VDOT is conducting a comprehensive, detailed schedule impact analysis to determine the extent of the impact these variables will have on the schedule moving forward," said Kelley.
The road expansion project first began back in 2019, starting at Republic Road through the First Colonial Road intersection. Construction is also underway at a bridge replacement west of Red Robin Road.
According to VDOT, the delay was inevitable because of a variety of issues. This includes the soil's condition, revisions to the project, and major issues with utility lines that run underneath Laskin Road.
Kelley said there are 11 miles of "pipes" that can be found underneath two miles of the roadway. When crews went to remove the pipes marked as abandoned, they found several were still active.
"This creates delays as crews must safely and efficiently identify and deconflict the utilities before installing new ones," said Kelley.
However, Kelley said progress has been made on the project which has stretched for now five years.
All of the feeder lanes are now removed on Laskin Road. The majority of the utility work is now complete, and there are now new sound walls in front of Linkhorn Bay Condominiums.
Work is ongoing for the bridge construction over Linkhorn Bay, roadway construction to include curb, gutter, and sidewalk in the Hilltop area on Laskin Road and First Colonial Road, traffic signal pole installation at the Laskin Road intersections of Republic Road and First Colonial Road, and storm drainpipe installation along First Colonial Road.
For the drivers and business owners who have to use this roadway to commute every day, they said their patience is stretching thin.
"I was just in Trader Joe's listening to two people explain how they got into accidents where people were trying to go the wrong way or making left-hand turns in front of them... so it's a real concern," said Joe Getz, a Hampton Roads driver.
Kelley told 13News Now that "VDOT continues to work with property owners, tenants, and management companies to inform them of planned construction activities in the vicinity of their businesses."
Additional lane closures and other work restrictions are possible in the future. Kelley said they anticipate confirmation of the current schedule status in the future, and they will update the project’s website and materials with any changes to the current project completion timeline.