A second span of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is ready to open on April 6, 1999.  Officials estimate this should decrease traffic fatalities sharply.

Since it's construction in 1965, the 23-mile bridge-tunnel that connects Hampton Roads to the Eastern Shore of Virginia has had only one span, forcing northbound and southbound traffic on this single span. This two-way traffic has been the leading cause of frequent traffic fatalities, according to traffic officials.  In recent years, 20 people have lost their lives in nine accidents.  A series of deadly crashes in 1997 led bridge officials to outlaw passing on the entire span.

In 1998, a new, $250 million parallel span opened, but the old one then shut down for repairs.

Now that repairs are complete, and weather permitting, the first of three sections of the original span (a 3-mile distance) is to open this afternoon between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. The middle section between the two tunnels is slated to open April 12. The northern and final section, from the second tunnel to the Eastern Shore, is scheduled to open April 19.

With two spans open, the dangerous two-way traffic will end, bridge-tunnel capacity will double from two lanes to four, and new shoulder and pull-off ramps will be added, officials said. Initial  estimates show the changes may possibily eliminate up to 90 percent of fatal accidents on the span.

"It feels really good to be getting that first section open," said James K. Brookshire Jr., executive director of the bridge-tunnel district. "We'll be ready for the summer season."

While both spans will be operational, periods of one-lane traffic on the new span will occur while pavement markings and signs are updated to reflect the new traffic patterns.

"We won't have to hold up traffic to do that work," Brookshire said. "We'll keep traffic in the single lane they've been in, so it shouldn't be a problem."