VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Route 223 (Old Ferry Road) bridge over Milford Haven in Mathews County will resume scheduled openings for marine traffic at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 8.

VDOT had previously announced marine openings would resume on Monday, May 1. An additional week is needed to finish fitting and installing several parts that operate the bridge's movable swing span. The parts were fabricated to meet the specific dimensions of the bridge.

The two-lane movable swing span bridge that connects Gwynn's Island with mainland Mathews was built in 1938, and is currently undergoing a $10.7 million rehabilitation project to improve the mechanical and electrical systems that operate the swing span.

Marine openings will be limited to six times a day on a temporary basis: 2 a.m., 5 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m.

Repair work will continue through fall 2023. When all work is finished, the bridge will be able to resume opening for marine traffic on demand.

Testing of the new mechanical and electrical equipment operating the swing span will be underway throughout this upcoming week, beginning Saturday, April 29. During testing, and at other times when the bridge is open for marine traffic, motorists on Route 223 (Old Ferry Road) can expect to be stopped for approximately 30 minutes. If no marine traffic is present at a scheduled time, no opening will occur. In the event of an emergency on the island during an opening, the swing span will be returned to the closed position for vehicle traffic.

For more information and updates, visit the project page on VirginiaDOT.org.

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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.