Traffic on the James River Bridge will be restricted to one lane in each direction this weekend as the Virginia Department of Transportation continues efforts to replace the bridge’s steel grid deck.
The lanes will be restricted from 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Motorists should anticipate delays and avoid the bridge if possible; the I-664 Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel is the recommended alternate route.
While the lanes are restricted, VDOT will prepare a crossover point to switch traffic onto the opposing bridge. The crossover will be used the following weekend while the grid deck is replaced for both north- and southbound bridge spans.
The work to replace the grid will resume next weekend, from 9 p.m. Oct. 5 to 5 a.m. Oct. 8. In a press release, VDOT said it will take at least seven additional weekends of lane closures to complete the work, and the schedule has yet to be determined. The Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel will be open during the weekends when JRB is under construction.
The project will include removing the existing grid deck, repairing the deck’s substructure, installing the new grid deck and balancing the counterweights of the lift mechanism. VDOT awarded Curtis Contracting of West Point the construction contract for $3.8 million with an estimated completion date of winter 2013.
The project was delayed due to public outcry after simultaneous closures of the HRBT and JRB on the weekend of Sept. 14-16 led to lengthy delays. Work was suspended while VDOT reevaluated its plans to complete the JRB work and repaving of the HRBT. Last week, VDOT announced tentative plans to complete the repaving project after Columbus Day and estimates it will take two weekends to finish.
While making a public apology for the traffic disruption, VDOT Chief Deputy Commissioner Charlie Kilpatrick said the agency will never again close more than one river crossing at a time, and will complete work on weekend nights, while keeping lanes open in the busiest times of the day. Read more about VDOT’s “lessons learned” here.
Motorists are encouraged to call 511 or the Traffic Information Line at 757-361-3016, visit www.511virginia.org, or listen to Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) 1680 AM for current traffic and travel information.
