Route 17 northbound at the bridge over Dragon Run, which sits on the border of Gloucester County and Middlesex County, will remain limited to a single lane until construction begins to replace the bridge in March 2026. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) made this decision after a vehicle crash on December 10, 2025, damaged part of the bridge rail and guardrail.
“Based on recent and repeated bridge strikes occurring at this location, for traveler safety the right lane will remain closed until the bridge replacement project begins this upcoming spring,” said VDOT Saluda Residency Administrator Lee McKnight. “It also avoids investing in another repair just before the bridge is removed and replaced.”
Barriers have been installed to separate the left lane from the closed right lane as well as from the damaged areas. The northbound left travel lane remains open at a width of 14 feet.
Southbound traffic continues to use a separate bridge over Dragon Run with both lanes open. When construction starts in March 2026, both directions of Route 17 will be reduced to one lane each. Northbound and southbound vehicles will share use of the southbound bridge while work is underway. One travel lane in each direction will remain open throughout construction.
The new northbound Route 17 bridge is expected to cost $14.6 million and is scheduled for completion by December 2027. It will be wider, taller, and longer than the existing structure built in 1931.
VDOT is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating Virginia’s roads, bridges, and tunnels to support safe transportation across the state (official website). The agency manages one of America’s largest state highway systems and oversees planning, construction, maintenance services—including highway upkeep—and traffic management programs like Virginia 511 (official website). Established originally as the State Highway Commission in 1906, VDOT now serves as a key agency overseeing transportation infrastructure statewide (official website).