Illegal lane changes at Downtown Tunnel

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Viewers called and wrote 10 On Your Side to complain about people changing lanes as they exit the Downtown Tunnel on the Portsmouth side. One woman said her car has almost been hit twice.

10 On Your Side monitored the area in question and in a 30 minute period at least three cars crossed over the double white line.

Some drivers said they knew they shouldn't change lanes, but there's nothing there stopping them.

Michael Boothe said he was confused.

"The way it was set up, we didn't know because we never come that way," Boothe said.

So, what can be done to clear up any misunderstandings?

A Virginia Department of Transportation spokesperson said dividers cannot be used outside the tunnel, because the area is an interstate.

Dividers can only be installed on primary and secondary roads.

And when it comes to enforcement there is very little room for a police car to safely park, as there is no real shoulder off the tunnel.

One idea could be to install something similar to a red light camera, allowing police to track drivers who break the law. But a decision like that would have to come from local legislators.