As construction nears completion to reopen the improved Chatham Bridge next month, crews will need to close one lane of River Road to mill and pave the intersection at Route 3 Business in Stafford County.
Starting at noon on Tuesday, Sept. 7, the eastbound travel lane on River Road will be closed from Gordon Street at the Falmouth Beach area to the Route 3 Business intersection. The westbound travel lane on River Road from the Chatham Bridge work zone to Gordon Street will remain open.
Weather permitting, the eastbound travel lane will close at 8:30 a.m. each day next week starting Wednesday, Sept. 8 and reopen by 5 p.m. The westbound travel lane will always remain open.
Signs will be posted to alert drivers to the lane closure.
New Traffic Pattern at River Road and Route 3 Business
When the bridge reopens in October, left turns will be prohibited from River Road onto Route 3 eastbound, toward Ferry Farm. Traffic traveling eastbound over the bridge from the City of Fredericksburg into Stafford will be prohibited from turning left onto River Road. The project contractor is presently building a concrete island at the River Road approach that will channel traffic to be limited to right turns in, and right turns out.
The new traffic pattern is aimed to significantly reduce delays and improve traffic flow at the intersection. The new traffic pattern and island can be viewed in the project’s public hearing display.
Project Background
Construction is on schedule to reopen the Chatham Bridge over the Rappahannock River in October 2021, restoring the connection for vehicle traffic and pedestrians between Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg.
The new bridge will be slightly wider, and will have a pedestrian path separated from traffic.
Final construction activities will continue after the bridge has reopened to traffic, and the contractor has until April 2022 to complete all work. The impact to traffic after the bridge reopens will be limited. Only periodic single-lane closures, scheduled at off-peak times, are anticipated to be needed.
Learn more about the $23.4 million Chatham Bridge improvement project online, and view the work zone construction camera here.
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