CHARLOTTESVILL, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Virginia Department of Transportation will begin a $3.9 million project to replace the Old Ivy Road (Route 601) bridge over the U.S. 29/250 bypass beginning Monday, Feb. 17.

The current structure is substandard and deteriorating. This project will replace the bridge deck and beams and rehabilitate the bridge piers. The new structure will be raised slightly to provide more vertical clearance for vehicles on U.S. 29/250 traveling under the bridge.

During construction, the bridge will be restricted to eastbound traffic only and will narrow to a width of 10 feet 8 inches. Due to the narrower lane, eastbound trucks measuring greater than 45 feet in length will not be able to turn north on U.S. 29 east of the bridge. Trucks measuring greater than 45 feet should instead use Ivy Road.

Westbound Route 601 traffic will detour north onto U.S. 29/250 and make a U-turn at Barracks Road, then use the exit for Route 601 to reach points west of the closure.

The contractor will also implement several nighttime weekend closures on U.S. 29/250 on an as-needed basis. Separate detours for trucks and cars will be in place during these intermittent, short-term closures.

Truck traffic wishing to reach points north should follow Interstate 64 east to exit 124 to travel west on U.S. 250 (Richmond Road), then take the exit for U.S. 29 north (Emmet Street/Seminole Trail).

U.S. 29/250 passenger vehicles and local traffic will use U.S. 250 Business (Ivy Road) and Emmet Street to reach points north of the closure. To reach points south, drivers will use U.S. 250 Business, then take an immediate right to continue on U.S. 29/250 south of the closure.

Drivers should use caution through the work zone and watch for flagging teams to direct them through nighttime closures.

The bridge was built in 1961 and about 8,000 vehicles cross it daily. The anticipated completion date for this project is fall 2026.

For more information about this project, visit the project page on VDOT’s website: Route 601 bridge over U.S. 29/250.

Local updates about conditions in VDOT’s Culpeper District are posted to X.com/VaDOTCulp and the Culpeper District Facebook page.

Current traffic conditions, VDOT’s statewide network of traffic cameras and other real-time travel information is on the 511Virginia website. That information is also available on the free VDOT 511 mobile app or by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.