James River Bridge faces pair of closures

Crews to replace ropes that raise span for vessels

The James River Bridge will be impassable by vehicles and marine vessels large enough to require the bridge to lift during two extended periods in the coming months to allow crews to replace its 40-year-old counterweight wire ropes.

The closures for both directions of traffic will take place between Nov. 15 and Feb. 15, though exact start and end times have not been set. The $8 million project, called the James River Bridge Wire Rope Replacement Project, will involve two 100-hour (up to four continuous days) closures that will include a weekend, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation. The wire ropes are a critical part of the bridge’s lifting function, and are housed in two towers.

PCL Construction, the contractor awarded the project, will submit dates for the closures, which must be approved by VDOT and the U.S. Coast Guard.

The pair of closures will be separated by at least two weeks, as required to allow for backup dates.

Marine travel may be impacted for an additional day to give crews time to make sure the moveable portion of the bridge is aligned and in working order.

“The bridge must be closed to ensure a long-lasting repair for the safety of travelers and construction crew in the work zone,” VDOT said in a news release.

Commuters travelling from Isle of Wight County toward Newport News will be directed across the Godwin Bridge to the Interstate-664 interchange and the Monitor Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. Those headed toward Isle of Wight from Newport News will be directed to I-664 through the MMBT to the Bridge Road Exit in Suffolk before crossing the Godwin Bridge, according to VDOT. Route 460 and Jamestown Scotland Ferry are alternate routes.

The replacement of the wire rope will be done one tower at a time. The work will be done for 24 hours a day during the closures, VDOT said.

The bridge lifts about 60 times a month, The Virginian-Pilot reported in 2019, and has about 30,000 vehicles passing over it each day.

STAFF FILE The James River Bridge will face two closures of up to four days each between Nov. 15 and Feb. 15, though the exact dates haven’t been set.