As of 5:20 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, all northbound lanes on the Route 17 James River Bridge have reopened. The bridge, which connects Isle of Wight County to Newport News, underwent critical repairs to its grid deck. Initially planned to remain closed until 5 a.m. Monday, contractor crews managed to complete the replacement of one panel of the steel grid deck ahead of schedule.
The grid deck is crucial as it serves as the primary load-bearing surface for traffic. It acts as a structural platform that distributes vehicle weight across the bridge’s supporting beams.
For further details about the project, information is available on the VDOT website at www.VDOT.Virginia.gov/JRBClosures.
