Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews are set to replace three drainage pipes under Route 354 (River Road) at Deep Creek in Lancaster County with a concrete box culvert. Beginning Tuesday, March 3, River Road will be closed to traffic between Route 3 and Route 201 for an estimated six months while the installation takes place.
The project includes removing the existing pipes, installing a new 76-foot-long concrete box culvert—roughly the length of two school buses—and replacing the roadway on River Road. Signs will direct drivers along a recommended four-mile detour route that uses Route 618 (Nuttsville Road) and Route 622 (Morattico Road). An online map of the detour is available.
Message boards will be posted to notify motorists about the upcoming closure and detour. Access to residential driveways along River Road will remain open throughout construction. Drivers are encouraged to use the most convenient alternate route based on their destination.
Weather permitting, work is expected to be completed by September 2026.
According to the official website, VDOT is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating Virginia’s roads, bridges, and tunnels in order to support a safe and efficient transportation system. The agency manages one of the largest state highway systems in the country, covering tens of thousands of lane-miles across Virginia. In addition to overseeing planning and construction projects like this one, VDOT also provides services such as highway maintenance and traffic management through systems like Virginia 511.
VDOT’s headquarters are located at 1221 East Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia.
