VDOT Crews Prepare for Irene

Statewide Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews stand ready to respond to any unsafe conditions and damage resulting from Hurricane Irene, which is expected to arrive off the coast of Virginia early Saturday morning.

VDOT crews and staff will begin emergency operations tomorrow morning – working in 12-hour shifts throughout the storm. Emergency operations will continue to assist emergency responders with traffic control, detours and road closures. VDOT personnel will suspend emergency response activities in the event of sustained tropical storm winds of 39 mph or higher. Once conditions have improved, crews will work around the clock to clear all roadways of debris.

During a hurricane, VDOT generally does not close bridges, ramps or roads unless there is eminent danger to public safety such as high water, strong sustained winds, pavement/structural damage, or downed trees and other debris that block roads. VDOT prepares year round for hurricanes through training, conducting drills and performing simulation studies.

Residents and travelers should be aware that a number of bridges in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula area may temporarily close to vehicular traffic this weekend during periods of high wind expected to accompany Hurricane Irene.

Signs and barricades are being placed into position near bridges that may close as weather conditions change by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). VDOT personnel will test wind speeds on these structures throughout the period of severe weather. When bridges are no longer safe for the motoring public, the bridges will close to vehicular traffic.

Motorists are advised to follow the direction on signs and barricades, as the bridges are closed for the protection and safety of travelers.

Bridges will be re-opened by VDOT personnel when crossings are once again safe for travel.

The following bridges may close this weekend:

Coleman Bridge (Route 17), Gloucester County and York County

• This bridge will close to vehicular traffic when sustained wind speed reaches 45 mph.

Harry W. Nice Bridge (Route 301), King George County

• This bridge is under the authority of the Maryland Transportation Authority. Any closure and re-opening of this bridge will be reported on 511Virginia.

Lord Delaware Bridge (Route 33), King & Queen County and West Point

• This bridge will close to vehicular traffic when sustained wind speed reaches 45 mph.

Lord Eltham Bridge (Route 33), New Kent County and West Point

• This bridge will close to vehicular traffic when sustained wind speed reaches 45 mph.

Robert O. Norris Bridge (Route 3), Lancaster and Middlesex County

• This bridge will close to vehicular traffic when sustained wind speed reaches 45 mph.
• When sustained wind speed reaches 30 mph, permanent electronic message boards at the bridge will communicate a high wind advisory.

Bridges in the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula may close due to other hazards, such as debris, downed power lines or flooding.

Real-time listings of road conditions in Virginia are available on VDOT’s 24-hour traffic and travel information website, www.511Virginia.org or by calling 511. Bridge and road closures, including all secondary road closures, will be listed on the website. Hampton Roads area traffic information is also available on Twitter: @511hamptonroads. For general VDOT information, follow us @VaDOT.

Information available on 511Virginia is also communicated through VDOT’s Twitter accounts, targeted for different parts of Virginia and specific interstate corridors. Visit www.VirginiaDOT.org to see a list of VDOT’s Twitter accounts and how to subscribe.