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A vessel strike last week on a bridge in Chesapeake is still causing headaches for drivers.
One southbound lane remains closed on the 168 Bypass Bridge on the Chesapeake Expressway to accommodate repairs to the span, the city said in an update Monday night.
On Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard informed Chesapeake city leadership that a spud barge struck the underside of the southbound side of the bridge, damaging one of the girders. Inspectors concluded the bridge was safe to drive on, but the right lane of the southbound side is closed “until further notice,” according tothe city.
The single lane of traffic will prevent additional damage from vehicle stress, according to city spokesperson Heath Covey, adding that the decision to close these lanes was made out of “an abundance of caution.”
“This is a matter of weight — there are no concerns over stability or the overall safety of the bridge,” Covey said in an email.
The stretch of the Expressway between the Kempsville Road and Mount Pleasant Road exits sees about 65,000 vehicles per day, according to the city. Many of those vehicles travel to and from the Outer Banks from Hampton Roads and areas north. It’s unclear how long the delays have been during peak traffic hours, but Covey said the closure is having ”ripple effects throughout the area.”
Covey wasn’t able to provide a timeline or cost for the repairs, saying the degree and location of the damage means the fix won’t happen “overnight.”
“The City is also evaluating options which could increase the traffic volume on the bridge, but safety is the highest priority,” he said.
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Covey confirmed the same dredging company that struck the wastewater pipe less than a mile to the west of the bridge in March, Norfolk Dredging, caused this damage. A dredge ruptured a pipe and caused about 2.5 million gallons of wastewater to leak into the canal.
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Drivers looking to go to the Great Bridge neighborhood or farther south can use Battlefield Boulevard instead of the expressway. Covey cautioned that alternate routes may also have increased traffic.
Traffic engineers are analyzing other options to ease traffic since other planned closures are set to continue.
“The City is also aware of the impact that the upcoming Centerville Turnpike Bridge closure will have on traffic,” a Facebook post from the city reads. “Public Works, Public Utilities and project contractors are working together to determine the impact of any potential changes to the project schedule.”
Despite the disruption, the planned 24-hour Centerville Turnpike Bridge closure is still on schedule for Wednesday at 8 p.m. through Thursday at 8 p.m. for work on a water main project.
Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com
Gavin Stone, 757-712-4806, gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com