Route 658, known as Monroe Bay Circle in Westmoreland County, has reopened earlier than expected. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) announced that the contractor completed a culvert replacement project four months ahead of schedule.
VDOT had expedited the project to replace five failed metal pipes beneath the road with a concrete double-box culvert. This initiative followed an incident on December 23, 2022, when a pipe failure led to pavement collapse, necessitating the closure of Monroe Bay Circle near Stoney Knoll.
In March 2023, bridge crews implemented a temporary solution by installing a prefabricated bridge over Monroe Creek. This allowed for alternating one-way traffic controlled by signals. However, in October 2024, the road was closed again for work on replacing the bridge and was anticipated to remain closed until September 2025.
Abernathy Construction Corp., based in Glen Allen, completed this $2.8 million project early. Their efforts included permanent drainage improvements and new pavement, restoring connectivity over Monroe Creek before Memorial Day weekend.
Currently, crews are in the process of removing detour signs and traffic control devices from the area after finalizing pavement markings earlier today. Prior to last year’s closure, approximately 1,200 vehicles traveled daily on Monroe Bay Circle.
