Route 250 bridge at Ivy open to traffic

The bridge on Route 250 (Ivy Road) over Little Ivy Creek near Ivy west of Charlottesville is open to traffic, one day ahead of its scheduled reopening. Crews are now working to remove signs and other detour indicators along Route 250 and Interstate 64.

The project contractor, Burleigh Construction Co., Inc., of Concord, Va., will continue work on the project site to finish the construction. Motorists may encounter single lane closures overnight during the next several weeks as crews complete the job, including installing permanent pavement markings, final grading on the site and removing the equipment and field office.

To minimize the closure time, the contractor used accelerated construction techniques, replacing the bridge with pre-cast box culverts that were set in place in the streambed. Once the culverts were in place the roadbed and travel surface were constructed on top of the culverts.

VDOT worked closely with Albemarle County, local emergency response agencies, businesses and nearby residents to determine the best way to accomplish the bridge replacement. Comments received at the public hearing overwhelmingly favored the two-week closure rather than a phased construction plan that would have restricted traffic on Route 250 to one lane, controlled by a traffic signal, for at least three months. Scheduling the closure during July avoids affecting daily school traffic and takes advantage of the seasonal reduction in commuter traffic.

Burleigh Construction replaced the structurally deficient bridge, built in 1932, under a $1,277,945.80 contract. The contractor is eligible for an incentive for opening the bridge before the scheduled July 27 reopening date. For more information about the project, see the Route 250 bridge replacement project page on VDOT’s website.

Drivers should check www.511virginia.org or the 511 mobile app for current traffic, travel and weather information and follow @VaDOTCULP on Twitter for updates.