Drivers on Route 17 at the Gloucester–Middlesex county line should prepare for long‑term lane closures and delays as VDOT and its contractor begin mobilizing on Monday, May 18, for the long‑awaited northbound bridge replacement over Dragon Run.

The right lane on the northbound side has been closed since December 2025 due to damage from one of several crashes into the structure.

The upcoming $14.6 million project will replace the aging 1931 bridge with a structure that is wider, taller, and longer to meet modern standards.

What to Expect Starting May 18

Route 17 northbound will remain reduced to a single lane at the Dragon Run bridge.
Crews will begin building traffic crossovers for a major diversion planned in summer 2026.
Work zone barriers will continue separating the left and right lanes.

This summer, VDOT will close the northbound bridge, and it’s slated to remain closed until December 2027.

During the closure:
Both northbound and southbound traffic will shift onto the southbound bridge, with one lane open in each direction.

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