Commute Norfolk to Richmond for Work (Newport News, Hampton: how much, home, schools)

[mj62]

I'm being relocated for two years to Downtown Richmond but planning to live in Norfolk and keep my child in school here. I have a support network to help me out with her. It looks like I'll be leaving around 6am to drive to Richmond and leave work around 4:30 or 5 to head back to Norfolk. Has anyone done this? Is it crazy to think about doing this for two years?

[lunetunelover]

No, I've never done that.


And Yes it is INSANE to even consider it.


The traffic on 64 is definitely NOT conducive to that kind of daily commute.

[rtandc]

Not only is that crazy, that's like super bat crazy....your commute home on a Friday during the summer can easily turn into a 3-5 hour trip..... same can be said anytime during the winter if just the slightest amount of ice or snow accumulates on the roadways.

Then toss in the numerious accidents that occur between Richmond and Norfolk that force the State Police to shut down the interstate for often hours at a time which don't even include the normal break downs and accidents in the tunnels that occur almost daily and you have a commute that can turn your eight hour daily job into more of that 16 plus hour day

Now that said dealing with several hours of delay going home an unknown amount of times a month would only burden your support network at home but being delayed several hours past your normal start time at work a unknown number of times a month could burden your employer which may result in a unfavorable result towards you........

Why add more stress to an already stressful day by having to do a long commute to and from work everyday.........do yourself a favor, move much closer to Richmond and enroll your child in a school up there........

[mj62]

I would be living just south of the HRBT near 64, so I wouldn't be sitting in 564 traffic in the mornings. I know it sounds crazy....I'm hoping someone who currently does this commute can weigh in.

[randomlikeme]

I would definitely leave before 6AM if you felt like you had to be at work by 8AM.


Just move to Richmond or find a new job.

[Pyroninja42]

It might be feasible once they fully expand 64 on the Peninsula between Richmond and Newport News and they build the third crossing over the water to alleviate congestion. So I suggest you revisit this idea in about 25 years...

[Lockdev]

If you do not mind commuting 4 hours a day, then go for it.

Sane people would never do that, especially when the only reason is to keep your kid in Norfolk schools?

[lunetunelover]

Originally Posted by mj62

I would be living just south of the HRBT near 64, so I wouldn't be sitting in 564 traffic in the mornings. I know it sounds crazy....I'm hoping someone who currently does this commute can weigh in.

The HRBT traffic may be the least of your worries for the afternoon commute. I lived in Hampton and worked in Williamsburg and the Friday evening commute home (eastbound 64 between Wmsbg and Hampton) was the worst. It started around 3pm and would last past 7.


It can be done, but it really depends on how much you value your time. You will be sitting in traffic. A lot.

[mj62]

It's multiple reasons. I'm military and trying to keep my personal life and my career- very difficult. Next best option is lose my career or send my child away to live elsewhere due to the nature of my job in Richmond and lack of moveable support system. Crappy situation but weighing my options and this is one of them. Only upside is it's only two years, right?!!

[Pyroninja42]

An alternative, though, might be taking the highway south of the James that goes up through Petersburg?