Virginia Beach Expressway
The Virginia Beach Expressway (also known as the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway) was a 12-mile (19.3 km) limited access highway built to Interstate Highway standards extending between the independent cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Until 1999, it was signed as Virginia State Highway 44 (VA 44).
Built and funded with toll revenue bonds, it opened on December 1, 1967 as Virginia State Highway 44. The Expressway ran from an interchange with Interstate 64 and Interstate 264 in Norfolk almost due east to the oceanfront area of Virginia Beach. The original road had 4 lanes (2 each way). It was widened to 6 lanes in the 1980s, and to 8 lanes in the early 1990s.
While tolls existed, there were two toll rates, depending on whether or not you passed the main toll barrier between Rosemont Road and Independence Boulevard on your trip. If you exited before the main barrier or entered beyond it, you would need to pass a small row of automated, ungated toll collectors where you are supposed to pay the reduced toll. Attempting to drive past without paying would result in an alarm bell ringing. Police were instructed to stop motorists who attempted this if they saw it.
| Vehicle Type | Main Toll Barrier | Exit Before/ Enter After Barrier |
|---|---|---|
| Cars & and other two-axle vehicles |
$.25 | $.10 |
| Other Vehicles | $.25 + $.10/axle over two | $.05/axle |
On June 1, 1995, the bonds were retired and tolls and toll booths were removed in 1996. In July 1999, the former Virginia Beach Expressway was renumbered to I-264, effectively creating an eastward continuation of the original I-264, which ran through the downtown areas of Portsmouth and Norfolk and ended at I-64 (where the Expressway began). This is now the point where I-264 intersects and crosses the I-64 portion of the Hampton Roads Beltway near Military Circle in Norfolk.