Citizens from Suffolk, Chesapeake and Portsmouth gathered at Jolliff Middle School in Chesapeake Thursday evening for a citizen information meeting regarding the Bowers Hill Interchange Improvements Study.

The informal meeting, held by the Virginia Department of Transportation, featured large poster boards showing the basics of the study as well as three options to alleviate the issues with the Bowers Hill interchange.

The interchange includes the junction of Interstate 664, Interstate 264, Interstate 64, Route 460, Route 58, Route 13 and Route 191.

VDOT began the study to improve the interchange’s operational deficiencies, safety issues and congestion and capacity.

“It’s needed. I like the idea of a lot of ramps and barriers. I think it will alleviate accidents and a lot of the traffic,” said Portsmouth resident Stacey Dobbins.

VDOT proposed three options for citizens to look at and offer comments.

Two of the options addressed all three areas of concern, and one option addresses only a single issue but would be the simplest in regards to construction.

The first option was to optimize lane balance, and it would essentially add additional lanes to the highways.

It would increase efficiency and capacity but it would not address the weaving conditions. The plan would not improve operational deficiencies and safety.

The other two options, which most people seemed to like, would add ramps, barriers and new highway organization.

One option would include incorporating barriers and braided ramps. This would add six bridges and widen already existing bridges.

This plan would reduce the weaving as well as increase capacity on the highways.

“They need a lot of flyovers,” said Suffolk resident Claudia Lee. “If they don’t make 664 three lanes, it won’t work.”

The final option that was presented would require a full reconstruction of the entire interchange. The reconstruction would separate most of the main lane traffic, and it would also add braided ramps and barriers. They would attempt to maintain existing roadways where feasible.

This option would fix all three of the problems presented to the citizens, like the braided ramps option.

The project will continue to assess the impacts of the construction, and they will have another public hearing in the summer of 2019.

The public can continue to submit comments until Sept. 1, and additional details about the project can be found at bowershillinterchange.com.