City staff outlines Exit 21 design, environmental review and likely construction window

City staff presented updated Exit 21 design drawings and an outline of the environmental review and construction schedule at the Norfolk Neighborhood Association meeting, describing roundabout options, proposed slip lanes and an environmental review process that will include a federal biological assessment. "There is not officially. The design is at the stage where we are completing the environmental aspects, and it will go to Washington DC for the National Marine Fisheries Service," the staff member said, adding that the NMFS review generally takes about two years after submission. Staff said they expect to submit the materials next summer and that bidding could occur in 2028–2029, with potential construction seasons beginning in 2029 and extending across two construction seasons. The staff member walked through the project page on the city website, showing 30%-level right‑of‑way drawings and property impacts, including corner takes at the civic center and at the park-and-ride. The designs under consideration favor roundabouts over signalized intersections; the staffer said roundabouts "have a slightly higher accident rate, but they tend to be small glancing blows" compared with t‑bone or head‑on collisions at signalized intersections, and that roundabouts can provide pedestrian refuges that let pedestrians cross one direction of traffic at a time. Design details described in the meeting include double‑wide lanes on the two main approaches, a single‑lane entry near the library, and slip lanes to allow some movements to bypass the roundabout. Staff showed property‑level maps that identify a townhome development of about 37–39 units and a nearby commercial parcel the presenter estimated at about 12,000 square feet; the presenter said the townhomes have been approved and frontage and road‑approach design work is underway. Residents pressed staff on flooding and fill associated with nearby development. Staff described two technical studies that developers submit and city engineers review: a no‑net‑rise analysis and a channel‑migration‑zone study. "That study was done, and it will not affect the characteristics of the river," the staff member said, summarizing the city and FEMA review process. The presenter explained how changes in excavation and compaction can change volumes and that engineers modeled those effects to avoid adverse impacts to neighboring properties. Staff also described existing flood management tools — FEMA flood maps, local pump stations and seawall materials staged for emergency use — and said the city maintains capital reserves and seeks developer contributions when large system upgrades are needed. The presentation included no formal vote; staff encouraged residents to review drawings and documents posted on the city's planning projects page and to call city hall with questions.