A 110-foot roundabout, due for completion next spring, will create an attractive southern gateway to the city of Portsmouth’s revitalized downtown. Reports Janie Bryant with the Virginian-Pilot:
The road design eliminates several of the roads now feeding in and out of Crawford Street and frees up extra land on its northwestern side to make room for what will likely be a mid rise residential development.
The added land for development is one of the benefits of the new traffic design but not the main point, city engineer Richard Hartman said. … “This would provide a focal point for downtown. … It’s more of an identity of a destination.”
Downtown Portsmouth, once one of Virginia’s seedier urban districts, is making a tremendous come-back. Overshadowed by the spectacular revitalization of downtown Norfolk across the river, downtown Portsmouth is one of Virginia’s best kept secrets. The city has built on its waterfront and historic buildings to create a very attractive and liveable place. To see other renderings of Portsmouth Vision 2005, visit the Urban Design Associates website.