Driver blames tunnel tolls for lack of business growth in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — As it happens yearly, the tolls are set to go up at the Elizabeth River crossings — specifically, the Midtown and Downtown tunnels.

Downtown, Midtown tunnel tolls to increase in 2025

Starting Jan. 1, 2025, drivers can expect an increase of 17 cents during peak travel hours, a smaller increase than the one we saw this last January. But drivers believe it’s actually hurting the spread of business to Portsmouth and points south.

The increase next year sees drivers, with an E-ZPass, paying $3.23 next year during peak hours — that’s 5:30 to 9:00 a.m. and 2:30 to 7:00 p.m. That’s up from $3.06 from this year. During non-peak hours drivers will pay $2.34, up from $2.26. And you’ll pay even more if you don’t have an E-ZPass.

One driver who didn’t want to be identified said he blames the toll for the lack of business growth on this side of Hampton Roads.

“Then people don’t want to come on this side because of it,” he said. “So now you’re hindering commerce to come in, but people don’t want to go out. That’s not fair.”

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