VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews in Fredericksburg District have prepared staff, equipment and materials to respond to flooding, downed trees and other hazardous travel conditions from Tropical Storm Isaias.

Intense, heavy rainfall is expected along the I-95 corridor in the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula from Monday afternoon through Tuesday afternoon. During the storm, motorists are likely to encounter areas of standing water and roads partially or fully blocked by flooding.

High winds may also lead to downed trees, utility lines and other debris, especially in areas where soil is already saturated from recent storms.

Motorists are advised to plan to adjust their route and travel plans as necessary. Check 511Virginia before starting a trip for a real-time list of roads partially or fully closed due to flooding or other hazards.

VDOT Fredericksburg District crews will mobilize in emergency response starting Monday evening and will remain at work 24 hours a day, in rotating 12-hour shifts, until all state-maintained roads are safe for travel. Tree contractors are on standby to assist VDOT with tree and debris removal.

What Travelers Should Know

511Virginia will report state-maintained roads partially or completely blocked due to flooding, debris, downed utility lines or other safety hazards.

Additional storm information: 

• Never drive across a flooded roadway. The underlying road or bridge may be damaged or completely washed away beneath flood waters, and a few inches of water can sweep vehicles downstream. Turn around, don’t drown!
• Do not try to move or drive around a barricade.
• Avoid flood-prone areas, especially along creeks and other low-lying areas.
• If you come across a downed power line, do not try to move it. Contact your local authorities.
• Be alert for tree limbs and other debris in the roadway. Even small branches and other debris can damage a car or cause the driver to lose control.
• Keep headlights on while it’s raining: it’s the law.
• Report downed trees, flooding, or other roadway hazards to VDOT’s Customer Service Center at 1-800-FOR-ROAD (367-7623) or online at https://my.vdot.virginia.gov.The Customer Service Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

High Winds Protocol for Major Bridges

VDOT will monitor sustained winds on major river crossings in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula, including:

• Robert O. Norris Bridge, which carries Route 3 over the Rappahannock River between Lancaster and Middlesex counties
• Downing Bridge, which carries Route 360 over the Rappahannock River between Richmond County and the Town of Tappahannock
• Route 223 bridge over Milford Haven, which connects mainland Mathews County with Gwynn's Island
• Eltham Bridge, which carries Route 30/Route 33 traffic over the Pamunkey River and connects the Town of West Point and New Kent County
• Lord Delaware Bridge, which carries Route 33 over the Mattaponi River and connects the Town of West Point and King and Queen County

If sustained winds reach 30 mph over a period of 30 minutes, or there are frequent wind gusts of 45 mph or greater, VDOT will post a high wind advisory notice on these bridges. High-profile vehicles such as tractor-trailers, box trucks and large vans and SUVs are advised to not cross these bridges when a high wind advisory is posted. Trucks carrying small or empty loads may be especially at risk.

When sustained winds reach 45 mph or above over a period of 15 minutes, VDOT crews will post a bridge closure notice. However, bridges will not be physically barricaded.

Notices will be posted on message boards staged at the bridges, and communicated through VDOT news releases, VDOT social media platforms, and on 511Virginia.

Ferry Service

Service on the Merry Point Ferry in Lancaster County and Sunnybank Ferry in Northumberland is suspended until further notice. Ferry travelers can check 511Virginia for real-time service updates.

511Virginia

Download the free mobile 511 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.

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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.