Military Highway (Chesapeake)

Military Highway (Chesapeake)
Name	Military Highway
Location	Chesapeake, Virginia
Length mi	7.2
Maint	Virginia Department of Transportation
Direction a	West
Terminus a	I‑264 at Kempsville
Direction b	East
Terminus b	US 17 at Bowers Hill
Counties	Chesapeake

Military Highway (Chesapeake) is a principal arterial road in the independent City of Chesapeake connecting major corridors such as I‑264, I‑64, I‑664, and US 17. The route traverses commercial districts, suburban neighborhoods, and key intermodal facilities, serving traffic to Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Port of Virginia, and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge‑Tunnel. It is a focal point for regional planning involving Hampton Roads Transit, Virginia Department of Transportation, and the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization.

Route description

Military Highway begins near Kempsville at the interchange with I‑264 and proceeds southeast as a multi‑lane divided arterial paralleling corridors to Norfolk International Airport. The alignment intersects major highways including US 13, US 58, and SR 168 before reaching the Bowers Hill complex where it meets I‑664 and US 460. Along its course it serves access to regional nodes such as Chesapeake Square Mall, the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Newtown Corridor, and the South Hampton Roads Industrial Park. The corridor passes near facilities associated with Naval Air Station Oceana, Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story, and commuter links to Downtown Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Newport News.

History

Military Highway was constructed during the mid‑20th century as part of postwar expansion initiatives tied to United States Interstate Highway System growth and defense‑related mobility priorities, influenced by planning from Virginia Department of Highways and regional authorities in Hampton Roads. The roadway’s development paralleled suburbanization trends associated with veterans returning to Chesapeake, expansion of Naval Station Norfolk, and growth at the Port of Virginia and associated industrial sites. Subsequent upgrades reflected funding and policy actions involving the Federal Highway Administration and state transportation programs such as the Commonwealth Transportation Board allocations. Major reconfigurations occurred in response to traffic increases from projects like the Midtown Tunnel improvement program and the Hampton Roads Bridge‑Tunnel expansions, while corridor improvements coordinated with land use plans from the City of Chesapeake planning department and regional environmental reviews under the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.

Major intersections

Military Highway’s principal junctions include interchanges and intersections with statewide and federal routes: the western terminus at I‑264 near Kempsville; junctions with US 13 and US 58 providing access toward Virginia Beach and Suffolk; connection to SR 168 leading to Chesapeake Expressway; and the eastern complex at Bowers Hill where it meets I‑664, US 460, and US 17. The corridor also interfaces with arterial collectors feeding Greenbrier Mall‎ area, Bellamy Manor, and industrial spurs serving the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge and intermodal terminals proximate to the Northampton Boulevard corridor.

Land use and points of interest

The Military Highway corridor hosts a mix of commercial, retail, institutional, and light industrial land uses anchored by destinations such as Chesapeake Square Mall, regional shopping centers near Greenbrier Mall‎, and cluster developments associated with Sentara Healthcare facilities and outpatient clinics. Educational institutions near the corridor include campuses tied to Tidewater Community College and satellite centers used by Old Dominion University outreach programs. Recreational and cultural sites accessible from the roadway include parks linked to Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge outreach, community centers in South Norfolk, and performance venues within the Suffolk Performing Arts Center catchment. Industrial and logistics activities along connector streets support operations at the Port of Virginia terminals, distribution centers for firms contracting with Defense Logistics Agency, and warehouses serving Norfolk Southern Railway intermodal yards.

Transportation and traffic

Military Highway functions as a multimodal spine with bus services provided by Hampton Roads Transit, park‑and‑ride lots serving vanpools to Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads, and bicycle‑pedestrian facilities coordinated under regional Complete Streets initiatives championed by the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization. Traffic volumes reflect commuter flows between Virginia Beach, Norfolk, and Portsmouth, with peak congestion influenced by shipping shifts at the Port of Virginia and base operations at Naval Air Station Oceana. Freight movements use connectors to I‑64 and I‑264 while traffic management leverages ITS deployments promoted by the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

Future developments and improvements

Planned improvements for the corridor involve roadway widening projects and intersection modernizations funded through Virginia SMART SCALE and state capital programs overseen by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, with environmental assessments coordinated with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and community outreach by the City of Chesapeake planning department. Projects under study include enhanced transit lanes in coordination with Hampton Roads Transit network expansions, freight access upgrades tied to the Port of Virginia strategic plan, and resiliency measures addressing sea‑level rise identified by the Hampton Roads Sea Level Rise Preparedness and Resilience Intergovernmental Planning Pilot Project. Coordination continues with regional partners including Norfolk Southern Railway, CSX Transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and military installations such as Naval Station Norfolk to align investments with economic development initiatives promoted by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.

Category:Roads in Chesapeake, Virginia