YORK COUNTY— Contractor crews with the Virginia Department of Transportation completed the first phase of repairs to the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge (Route 17) on Feb. 9, restoring bridge openings to their previous average duration of about 25 minutes.
In November 2025, a mechanical issue forced crews to operate and monitor the double-swing span bridge manually, extending openings to as long as 42 minutes.
Over the past week, crews installed new hydraulic equipment, allowing the bridge to open and close in a controlled manner and eliminating the need for extended manual openings. The repairs are a short-term fix to stabilize operations and improve reliability. VDOT said it plans to replicate the approach on similar equipment and further integrate it into the bridge control system.
Bridge openings must comply with federal regulations enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard, which typically require openings on demand for marine vessels. Any schedule changes must be approved at the federal level. While watercraft operators usually are not required to provide advance notice, VDOT obtained U.S. Coast Guard approval for a temporary four-hour notice requirement to ensure proper staffing during hydraulic operations.
For the latest bridge-opening schedule, including pre-planned openings with advance notice or real-time updates, VDOT recommends using its 511 Virginia tools, including the website and mobile app.
Users can also sign up for email and text alerts for specific Coleman Bridge openings at Virginia.gov.