VIRGINIA BEACH — A $43 million overhaul of the 17th Street/Virginia Beach Boulevard corridor at the Oceanfront begins this week.
The project includes replacing aging water, sewer and stormwater systems as well as installing wider sidewalks, new lighting, landscaping, crosswalks, traffic signals and police cameras. Four-foot-wide east- and west-bound bike lanes also will be added.
Phase one begins at Pacific Avenue and extends west along Virginia Beach Boulevard, also referred to as 17th Street, to Cypress Avenue. The project area extends north and south to encompass Cypress Avenue between 16th and 17th streets; Mediterranean Avenue between 16th and 18th streets; Baltic Avenue between 16th and 18th streets, and portions of Arctic Avenue between 16th and 18th streets.
Phase II, which is not yet funded, eventually will extend the improvements to Birdneck Road.
The corridor, in the ViBe Creative District, is notorious for flooding. Business owners have urged city officials to improve the stormwater drainage and deteriorating sidewalks for years. The infrastructure dates to the late 1930s and ’40s.
The project is primarily funded through the Tourism Investment Program fund, which is comprised of percentages of the hotel, meal and amusement taxes, as well as specified amounts of the hotel flat tax and cigarette tax.
It will take nearly four years to complete the road improvements. Businesses along the corridor will remain open throughout construction.
Upcoming phased road closures and traffic shifts:
Through Thursday: Arctic Avenue intersection at 17th Street will be closed for mobilization, water sampling well installation and utility tests.
Friday-Oct. 24: The Arctic Avenue intersection at 17th Street will reopen during the timeframe. The full block of 17th Street between Pacific Avenue and Arctic Avenue will be closed. Traffic will be detoured via 21st and 22nd streets.
Oct. 27-Dec. 23: The 17th Street block between Pacific Avenue and Arctic Avenue and the Arctic Avenue intersection will be closed. Traffic will be detoured via 21st and 22nd streets.
To learn more or sign up for project-related emails, visit VirginiaBeach.gov/17thSt-VBBlvd.
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
https://www.dailypress.com/2025/10/07/17th-st-overhaul-begins/

