CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – VDOT will be conducting weekend overnight 29 bypass closures as part of the Old Ivy Road bridge rehabilitation project, and the Culpeper District’s Alexis Mehretab notes this was scheduled before the bridge was hit Monday. A project information page states during the construction project, there would be some 30 instances of bypass closures during the work and the closures Saturday night into Sunday morning, then the two following overnights, is one of these instances.
According to VDOT, the closures are necessary to safely rehabilitate the bridge, which was built in 1961 and carries about 8,000 vehicles per day. VDOT is replacing the bridge deck and beams, rehabilitating the piers, and raising the structure slightly to improve vertical clearance on U.S. 29/250.
The northbound vehicle that clipped the Old Ivy bridge was able to safely pass under the Ivy Road overpass without incident.
Separate signed detours will be in place for truck and passenger vehicle traffic during each closure.
Truck traffic traveling north will follow Interstate 64 east to Exit 124, continue west on U.S. 250 (Richmond Road), and then take the ramp for U.S. 29 north (Emmet Street/Seminole Trail).
Passenger vehicles and local traffic heading north will use U.S. 250 Business (Ivy Road) and Emmet Street. To reach points south of the closure, drivers will use the U.S. 29/250 west exit at Route 601 (Old Ivy Road), turn left onto eastbound U.S. 250 Business, then take an immediate right to continue on U.S. 29/250.
The closure times are slightly different each night. The closures will occur: 11:30 p.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday; and 9 p.m. Sunday to 5 a.m. Monday; and 10 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday.
VDOT said the bridge, built in 1961, carries about 8000 vehicles a day. The bridge, which only had eastbound access during the construction time, is completely closed now until further notice because of the accident.
Click here for the current Old Ivy closure situation.
Click here for the project webpage.
