The Virginia Department of Transportation announced on Mar. 12 that a section of Route 693 (Stillhouse Creek Road) in Albemarle County will be closed starting Monday, April 6, to allow for the replacement of the bridge over Whiteside Branch.
The closure is expected to last through May 15, 2026, weather permitting. The project involves replacing the current steel beam and timber deck superstructure bridge. During this period, Route 693 will be closed to through traffic at its intersection with Route 692 (Plank Road).
Motorists traveling east of the closure on Route 693 are advised to use a detour via Route 635 (Burnt Mountain Road), continue onto Route 635 (Craigs Store Road), then follow Route 635 to Route 692 (Plank Road) before returning to Route 693. Drivers coming from the opposite direction should follow the detour in reverse. Message boards will be placed ahead of the closure to inform motorists about the schedule, and drivers are urged to follow posted detour signs and exercise caution near the work zone.
Local updates about conditions in VDOT’s Culpeper District will be available on X.com/VaDOTCulp and the Culpeper District Facebook page.
According to the official website, the Virginia Department of Transportation is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating Virginia’s roads, bridges, and tunnels as part of its mission to support a safe and efficient transportation system. The agency manages one of the nation’s largest state highway systems, covering tens of thousands of lane-miles across Virginia according to its official website. Services provided by VDOT include highway maintenance, traffic management through systems like Virginia 511, and oversight of land-use permits along state routes according to its official website.
VDOT serves as a state agency overseeing planning, construction, and maintenance for roadways, bridges, and tunnels throughout Virginia according to its official website. The department has evolved since its beginnings as the State Highway Commission in 1906 into an organization managing expanding transportation infrastructure according to its official website. Its headquarters are located at 1221 East Broad Street in Richmond according to its official website.
The upcoming bridge replacement is part of ongoing efforts by VDOT to maintain safe travel routes across Virginia’s extensive network.
