VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has updated the repair schedule on the posted Route 17 (Mills Drive) bridge over the CSX railroad in Spotsylvania County.

The weight limit on the bridge was reduced to 24 tons for single-unit vehicles and 34 tons for multiple-unit vehicles in Sept. 2018. 

VDOT is developing a contract to solicit bids from interested contractors to perform the necessary repairs on the bridge. The contract is expected to be advertised in Nov. 2019 and will be awarded in early 2020. A construction start date and project schedule will be developed based on coordination between VDOT and CSX railroad officials. 

It is anticipated that construction will begin in spring 2020 and be completed in fall 2020.

In the interim, motorists with vehicles similar to dump trucks, box trucks, tractor-trailers, and some larger emergency response vehicles, will continue to use the recommended detour:

For traffic traveling from points north: 

From Interstate 95 southbound, take Exit 130A (Route 3/Fredericksburg) to Route 3 eastbound to Route 2/Dixon Street/Tidewater Trail to Route 17. 

For traffic traveling from points south: 

From Interstate 95 northbound, take Exit 104 (Route 207/Carmel Church) to Route 207 northbound to Route 301 northbound to Route 17.

The Route 17 bridge is located near the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) station at Spotsylvania, and between Route 2 at New Post and Route 1 (Jefferson Davis Highway).

Project Background

VDOT lowered the weight limit on the Route 17 bridge over the CSX railroad after a routine bridge inspection revealed deterioration of the steel bridge beams.

The bridge remains safe for travel, but the weight limit on the bridge was reduced to 24 tons for single-unit vehicles and 34 tons for multiple-unit vehicles to reduce stress on the structure while repairs are scheduled.

511Virginia

Motorists can find real-time information on lane closures, work zones, traffic and other incidents on 511Virginia.

Download the free mobile 511Virginia app for Apple and Android devices to stay connected, or visit www.511Virginia.org. Motorists also can reach 511Virginia by calling 511 from any phone in Virginia.

Additional VDOT Information Sources

• Find VDOT Fredericksburg District news releases online on VDOT’s website, VirginiaDOT.org, under “Newsroom.”
• Follow VDOT on Twitter @VaDOT and @VaDOTFRED
• Connect with us on Facebook on our VDOT page, and VDOT Fredericksburg District group page

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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.