Norfolk building last to be demolished for light rail

By Cindy Clayton
The Virginian-Pilot
© June 22, 2010

NORFOLK

Norfolk Moose Lodge 39 on Kempsville Road was knocked down this morning to make way for The Tide light rail project.

The giant jaws of a piece of heavy machinery tore away at the building piece by piece this morning shortly after 10 a.m.

The site will be converted to a free park-and-ride lot with 266 spaces for commuters, with a portion of the land to be used for bus service related to the project, according to Hampton Roads Transit. The lodge has relocated to a building at The Gallery at Military Circle shopping mall.

The lot will have a train platform and an electrical substation that will convert alternating current to direct current for the light rail trains, according to HRT. The substation is nearly complete.

Seven houses and one business also were demolished to make way for the lot and station, according to HRT.

The Tide is scheduled to begin transporting passengers in May 2011.