Those who use Rt. 3 / Rt. 14 to travel between Mathews and Gloucester be advised. On Monday, VDOT will begin a major bridge rahab project that will change the traffic pattern in the Fort Nonsense area for over a year.
On July 8, VDOT is slated to start its $5.5 million project improving the westbound bridge over Burke Mill Stream in Mathews. By late August, the westbound lanes of Rt. 3 / Rt. 14 will be closed at Windsor Road.
When the westbound lanes close, westbound traffic will be shifted to an eastbound lane on Rt. 3 / Rt. 14, which means eastbound traffic will also be reduced to a single lane.
This work zone traffic pattern is expected to be in place from the August 2024 to fall 2025 “to accelerate work,” said VDOT.
Eastbound drivers will still have a dedicated turn lane to turn onto Windsor Rd. But drivers will not be able to turn left from Windson Rd. onto Rt. 14 once the bridge closes.
To reach Mathews, Rt. 3 travelers will be detoured to Rt. 198 and Rt. 602 (Burkes Pond Road) or drivers can turn right onto Rt. 14 westbound and proceed to the Rt. 602 intersection to make a U-turn until project completion.
VDOT said the westbound bridge is 76 years old, and this project will replace its deck, beams, bridge railings, guardrails and asphalt. Drainage, environmental controls and slopes near the structure are supposed to be improved.
And whereas the bridge currently has a weight limit, once this project is complete that restriction will be removed.
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