Hospital security checks cause delays

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - Security checks at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth caused a large traffic jam at the Downtown Tunnel Wednesday morning.

Around 6:45 a.m., traffic was backed up on I-264 Westbound to Ingleside Drive and I-464 Northbound to Buchanan. At one point, Jam Cams showed that traffic was backed up five miles on I-264W.

"It's taken us an hour, roughly, to get a mile, mile and a quarter," said one commuter.

"I hope they don't cancel my surgery!" said another as the car behind his beeped to keep traffic moving.

Deborah Kallgren, a Naval Medical Center public affairs spokesperson, told WAVY.com security guards were checking for military decals and turning away vehicles that didn't have one. Many commuters tell WAVY.com that typically they only have to show military identification cards to get through the gates.

Drivers voiced their concerns on the hospital's Facebook page.

"I am a nurse and here is my biggest concern with incidents such as this--this is a hospital--what if there was someone in that line that was having a heart attack, in labor, or trying to get the emergency room!?!" one person wrote. "This is not NOB or a normal base. This is a hospital and this should not occur."

Kallgren says the hospital was not aware that there would be a security check this morning. Part of the confusion is caused by the fact that the hospital no longer controls its own security team. That falls under the jurisdiction of Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads . NSA gained control of hospital security in October 2011.

NSA Spokesperson Katisha Draughn says the security checks are performed daily and were not a surprise.

When WAVY.com asked Draughn what held up the line Wednesday morning, Draughn provided the following written statement.

" Traffic delays in Hampton Roads are not uncommon.  There could be any myriad of reasons for delays that impact daily commuters throughout the region.  These include, but are not limited to, vehicle accidents en route to a destination, road construction, and/or routine heavy traffic during peak work hours in the morning and afternoon. The first of any month may present additional delays, particularly if there is a high volume of expired inspection stickers, expired vehicle registration, and/or expired CAC (Common Access Cards) Cards."

Draughn did not address the decals or the inconvenience of Wednesday's hold up. Drivers on Facebook still want answers.

"Please see the NMCP Facebook page for the long list of complaints and questions concerning today's outrageous issue at the Hospital's gate," one driver wrote on the NSA Facebook page. "Many of your service members are concerned, afraid, angry and demanding answers, as well as members of the Portsmouth community. This should fall on your shoulders, not the hospital's."

Draughn says emergency vehicles could use alternate entrances.

Late Wednesday morning, the hospital posted that driver's were able to use their military I.D.'s in place of decals, after hospital leadership contacted NSA.

When asked how the hold up can be avoided in the future, Draughn writes: " Patient care remains are top priority at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth. We currently have five inbound lanes and one outbound lane during peak hours to help alleviate traffic congestion and are continuously looking at ways to improve ingress and egress from the installation.  It is important for all members accessing Navy installations in Hampton Roads to have current vehicle registration and current personal identification."