VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews have readied staff and equipment to quickly respond to flooding, downed trees, and other safety hazards that may arise with a coastal flood warning active for portions of the Fredericksburg area, Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula.

Starting tonight through Saturday, coastal and low-lying areas are expected to experience high winds and flooding. Water levels may be 2-3 feet above normal at high tide in some areas.

VDOT crews will work 24 hours a day as needed, in alternating shifts, to address any safety hazards on state-maintained roads and bridges. Tree removal contractors have been placed on standby to assist VDOT with debris removal as needed.

What Travelers Should Know

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

• 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.

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 winds 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 winds 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.

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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.