Home Update | U.S. 29/250 bypass in Albemarle County reopened after bridge strike
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Update | U.S. 29/250 bypass in Albemarle County reopened after bridge strike

Crystal Graham
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Update: Monday, 7:28 p.m. Shortly before 7 p.m. today, the U.S. 29/250 bypass reopened to traffic after VDOT bridge crews and the contractor replacing the Route 601 (Old Ivy Road) bridge completed temporary repairs.

Old Ivy Road will remain closed while crews continue repairing damage caused when a commercial vehicle struck the bridge in the southbound lanes earlier this afternoon.

The crash caused extensive damage that made it unsafe for traffic to pass beneath the structure.

 


First report: Monday, 4:45 p.m. A commercial truck struck the Old Ivy Road bridge in Albemarle County causing extensive damage to the support beam and causing major traffic headaches this afternoon.

Due to the damage sustained shortly after noon today, the U.S. 29/250 Bypass is closed between Barracks Road and Ivy Road while repairs are under way. Old Ivy Road is also closed to through traffic.

The repairs will continue around the clock until completed, according to a news release from the Virginia Department of Transportation Culpeper District.

According to VDOT, bridge crews and contractors are working to replace the bridge. They determined “the bridge will need immediate, temporary repairs before traffic can safely pass under Old Ivy Road bridge.”

Drivers reported conditions among the worst they’ve ever seen going from Charlottesville to Crozet this afternoon. An eyewitness said the accident involved a flatbed truck carrying a large piece of equipment.

Sound familiar? It should.

This crash marks the third instance of a truck with an oversized load striking interstate bridge overpasses in the state recently.


ICYMI


On Sept. 23, a truck with an oversized load struck three bridges on Interstate 81, temporarily closing two overpasses in Rockingham County. One lane on I-81 was also closed until inspections were completed.

On Sept. 24, a landscaping truck carrying massive tree stumps struck an Interstate 95 bridge in Richmond causing the interstate to be shut down due to a hydraulic fluid spill and removal of the truck.

Traffic detours


  • U.S. 29/250 Bypass is closed between Route 654 (Barracks Road) and U.S. 250 Business (Ivy Road)
  • Old Ivy Road is closed to through traffic
  • Interstate 64 exit 118B to U.S. 29/250 bypass NB also closed
  • To reach Saint-Anne’s Belfield Route 855 (Faulconer Drive) campus: From the north, use U.S. 29 (Emmett Street) south to U.S. 250 Business and exit at Route 601 (Old Garth/Old Ivy Road) to reach Faulconer Drive. From the south, take U.S. 250 Business west to exit Route 601 to access Faulconer Drive.

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Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is a reporter and ad manager for Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of "Virginia Tonight," a nightly TV news show, both broadcast on PBS. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television. You can reach her at [email protected]