Governor Glenn Youngkin announced toll collection on the Coleman Bridge — which connects Gloucester and York County — will officially end on Friday evening, August 8.
The decision marks a major milestone for commuters and local communities who rely on the bridge daily.
The elimination of tolls was originally proposed in Governor Youngkin’s budget amendment, which called for tolling to cease no later than January 1, 2026. VDOT has since expedited the timeline, ending toll collection nearly five months ahead of schedule.
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“Eliminating tolls on the Coleman Bridge is more than just a financial decision, it’s a commitment to easing the burden on families, commuters, and local businesses who rely on this vital connection every day,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “By removing this toll, we are putting nearly $60 million back into the pockets of hardworking Virginians, allowing them to keep more of their hard-earned money and strengthen our local economy.”
Currently, tolls are collected one way — northbound, as drivers leave York County — generating nearly $6 million annually. However, almost half of that revenue is spent on toll collection operations.
While the bond debt from the 1996 bridge expansion has been fully repaid, an additional $29.6 million remains owed to the state’s Toll Facility Revolving Account. Continuing toll collection through 2034 would be required to repay that debt, costing drivers upwards of $60 million.
In addition, the tolling infrastructure on the bridge has reached the end of its useful life and would require nearly $5 million in upgrades to remain operational. By waiving the remaining debt and eliminating the need for further investment, the Commonwealth is delivering economic relief and avoiding unnecessary costs.
“The Commonwealth of Virginia has fulfilled its obligation to repay the bond debt for the Coleman Bridge, so it’s time to stop asking Virginians to pay tolls on this facility, and we are doing so five months early,” said Virginia Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard Miller III. “There are extensive costs required to continue tolling, and we believe that the toll money collected would be better off in the hands of taxpayers.”
Traffic considerations
VDOT will begin removing tolling signage on August 8 at 9 p.m., requiring a single northbound lane closure and lane shift on Route 17. Once the signs are removed, the two left toll lanes will be closed, and traffic will shift to the right using the remaining three lanes until the toll plaza is fully demolished.
The end of tolling is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at the toll plaza, especially during peak travel times. It also marks a significant step toward modernizing infrastructure and streamlining travel across the region.
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