Hampton officials outline Settlers Landing Road redesign with arches, raised crosswalks and separated bike/ped path

Hampton City Council members reviewed a design update for the Settlers Landing Road renovation that city staff say is intended to slow traffic, improve pedestrian safety and create a stronger downtown entry.

The proposal would narrow vehicle travel lanes, raise one block of roadway to curb level, shorten crosswalks from about 70 feet to 50 feet, add a protected multi‑use path for pedestrians and bicyclists, install protective lighted bollards, and place seven decorative arch structures along the corridor. Interim public works director Michael Bowery said the design would remove on‑street parking on the south side of the street while keeping parallel parking on the north side.

Bowery told council that a February 2024 traffic study led to near‑term changes such as police enforcement of the 25 mph limit, new no‑turn‑on‑red signs and longer pedestrian signal times. “We recommended from that study, we got with the police department to enforce the 25 mile per hour speed limit. We added no turn on red signage throughout the corridor, and then we lengthened the pedestrian signal times,” Bowery said.

Why it matters: Council members said the corridor currently carries diverted traffic and motorists often travel at unsafe speeds; the project is framed as a placemaking and safety effort. The design team plans raised crosswalks and a raised roadway in the block between Wine and King streets to create a “tunnel” effect and additional traffic calming. Bowery said shortening the crosswalk distance to 50 feet will reduce pedestrian crossing time by roughly six seconds.

Key design elements and clarifications - Seven arch structures spaced along the corridor to create a “tunneling” effect intended to slow motorists; the design team will return with options for arch materials and signage. Bowery said the arch wording is “subject” and may vary in renderings. - Protected multi‑use path and widened sidewalks to support outdoor seating and pedestrian activity; concrete foundations are shown to double as seating areas. - Bump‑outs and raised crosswalks to shorten crossing distances and function as traffic calming; council discussed whether the raised crosswalks and raised roadway will be at the same level — Bowery confirmed the crosswalks and raised roadway in the primary block will be at curb level. - Parking: the south side on‑street parking would be removed in the main corridor block; north side parking would be retained near the museum side.

Timeline and next steps Bowery said the project is in early design. “We are hopeful within 12 months. That's the anticipated goal. So we would be out to bid in a year roughly, and then hoping construction between 18 and 24 months is the most realistic timeline that I can share right now,” he said. That schedule, Bowery and council members noted, is intended to align with the expected completion of the Hampton Roads Bridge‑Tunnel work, which one councilmember cited as August 2027.

Council questions and staff commitments Council members asked about arch materials, whether arch signage could be unique to each bay, and whether the large speed hump at King Street and Settlers Landing would be removed. Bowery agreed to raise design questions with the consultant team, to review the large speed hump as part of the redesign and to provide material and sight‑line details in later presentations. Vice Mayor Brown and Councilwoman Mugler pressed for clarity on raised‑crosswalk heights; Bowery said the block between Wine and King would be raised to curb level and that other crosswalks in the corridor would be raised to curb level as well.

What was not decided No construction contract or formal council vote on the project was recorded in the work session. Council directed staff to continue design work and to return with more detailed materials, cost estimates and construction phasing when available.

Provenance Topic intro: “The next major project that is slated, to, to move forward is the Settlers Landing Road, renovation project. Our interim director, Michael Bowery, is here to present council, the concepts associated with, with that project.” (transcript timestamp s=121.27) Topic finish: “Okay. Thank you, Michael. Appreciate the, presentation. Looking forward to, getting this project done. It's, excellent, concept for Settlers Landing Road, and I think it's gonna be a great addition for our city.” (transcript timestamp s=1256.875)