Beginning May 22, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will commence a bridge replacement project on Route 607, also known as Cheaneys Bridge Road, over Dragon Run Creek in Essex County. The road section will be closed for about a year.
The new bridge will be constructed along the current alignment but will extend to 65 feet in length with travel lanes of 10 feet wide. The existing bridge, built in 1953, measures approximately 34 feet long.
Before the closure, crews will start mobilizing and setting up detour signs, which will be revealed on the day of the closure.
During construction, drivers will follow a detour route covering roughly six miles using Route 607 (Cheaneys Bridge Road), Route 684 (Howerton Road), Route 612 (Bestland Road), and back to Route 607. Construction work is scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
If weather conditions allow, the bridge replacement project is anticipated to conclude with the road reopening in May 2026.
Motorists will be informed about the upcoming closure and detour through message boards.
