vdot

vdot

Standing water inside the westbound side of the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel has prompted the Virginia Department of Transportation to close the tunnel, sending drivers scrambling and backing up alternate routes. The westbound side of the tunnel could be closed through this afternoon.

Just before noon, VDOT officials said they hope to open the westbound tunnel by this afternoon's rush hour.

VDOT crews are working inside the westbound tunnel to assess and repair damage to the main water pump. At the start of the rush hour, drivers headed west were slogging through about 4 inches of water, believed to have come from the housing of the main pump inside the tunnel, said Lauren Hansen, VDOT spokeswoman. The problem was believed to have been caused by the power outage during last night's storms.

"The tunnel is not leaking," Hansen said in a statement late this morning.