NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Drivers should expect multi-day closures for the James River Bridge (JRB) later this year and possibly into the new year as crews begin work on a critical upgrade project, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced Thursday.
Although no specific dates for the closures have been set, VDOT says the work will happen in two parts that will both require the bridge to be closed for multiple days sometime between Nov. 15, 2023, and Feb. 15, 2024.
Transportation officials said the exact dates for the closures will be solidified and announced to the public once the contractor submits its schedule and the department and U.S. Coast Guard approve it.
Crews will be replacing the 40-year-old counterweight wire ropes that are used for bridge lifts and are located in both towers of the JRB facility. VDOT said one tower will be worked on at a time.
The department is encouraging drivers who regularly use the JRB to sign up for project updates.
