CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Whether it be by plane, train or automobile, those living in Hampton Roads are traveling at a greater percentage than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the region’s latest State of Transportation report.
Since 2015 the number of people flying commercial out of the region increased by 46%, the number of passengers climbing aboard Amtrak has increased 90% and daily roadway travel is up 7% according to data compiled.
There has also been an improvement in the areas infrastructure. Out of the nearly 1,300 bridges that carry drivers across the region’s many waterways, 2.7% of bridges were classified as being in poor condition as of August 2025. That is down from 5.5% of bridges classified in poor condition in 2017.
33 Hampton Roads bridges are in poor condition, a significant improvement from a decade ago
However, what Kieth Nichols, the transportation engineer who authored the report, is concerned about more than that, is safety on the roads…