Preliminary lane closures and traffic stoppages on the Route 17 James River Bridge were scheduled to start today, January 6, to prepare for a 4-day full closure of the bridge.
January full shutdown
VDOT announced that a critical maintenance project is needed that will replace 40 of the 80 counterweight wire ropes that lift the bridge for marine traffic.
That work will require full closure of the bridge from Friday, January 12, at 1 a.m. through Tuesday, January 16, at 5 a.m.
Ahead of the shutdown, there will be a single-lane in both directions that’s slated to start as early as 7 p.m. on January 11.
January preliminary work
To prepare for the full shutdown, VDOT said the contractor needs to implement single-lane closures and brief, intermittent traffic stoppages.
That will occur on January 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the southbound. From January 8-11, it will occur from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
February full shutdown
The second part of the wire rope replacement project will also require a full shutdown of the James River Bridge. That closure is scheduled to start at 1 a.m. on Friday, February 2, and run through 5 a.m. on Tuesday, February 6.
Alternate routes
During the bridge closures, motorists are advised to take to the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. There will be signs to direct drivers along that route.
Other alternatives include the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry and Route 460.
Maritime closure
When the James River Bridge closes for roadway traffic, it will also close for marine traffic that requires the bridge to be raised because bridge openings won’t be possible, said VDOT.
Maritime travelers should be aware that the closures may last an additional 24 hours beyond the times outlined above to ensure the bridge span is aligned and operating properly after a series of test lifts. VDOT said it will provide updates on that.
Vessels that do not require a bridge opening can continue to use the channel at all times throughout the project.
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