The National Park Service plans to reopen Powhatan Creek Bridge at noon on July 1, 2010, following two projects to repair a damaged piling and replace the concrete bridge decking. The reopening of the bridge will allow travelers on the Colonial Parkway to enjoy the entire 23-mile route between Jamestown and Yorktown.

The bridge was initially closed last July for emergency repairs due to a boating accident that severely damaged one of the bridge's support pilings. The bridge has remained closed following those emergency repairs to allow for previously scheduled resurfacing of the bridge decking. The projects have been managed by the Eastern Federal Lands Highway Division of the Federal Highway Administration.

Beginning in mid-July, contractors will be sandblasting and painting the structural steel supports of six parkway bridges. While the Colonial Parkway will remain open during the project, work zones with lane closures and reduced speed limits will be placed at King's Creek Bridge, College Creek Bridge, Mill Creek Bridge, Jamestown Ismuth Bridge, Indian Field Creek Bridge, and the Route 17 overpass. Only one bridge will have a lane closure at any given time. The bridge work is scheduled to be completed in spring 2011.

Weekly updates to the roadwork on the Colonial Parkway are provided by the Federal Highway Administration by logging on to http://www.efl.fhwa.dot.gov/projects/traffic-colonial.aspx

James M. Perry
Public Affairs Officer
National Park Service
Colonial National Historical Park
(757) 898-2409 phone
(757) 898-6346 fax