Editor's note: Agencies have updated the detour route as of Oct. 11, 2016.
CHESAPEAKE, VA –The North Landing Bridge will close to vehicle traffic from 9 a.m. Oct. 11 to 4 p.m. Oct. 14 to fully repair the damage sustained during two barge strikes earlier this year.
The bridge will also close to commercial waterway traffic on the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway while the repairs are made.
Officials with the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are working with representatives from Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, as well as the U.S. Coast Guard to coordinate detours, and notifying mariners of the impending closure.
Motorists traveling from Virginia Beach to Chesapeake will take Indian River Road to Kempsville Road to Centerville Turnpike to Mount Pleasant Road.
Motorists traveling from Chesapeake to Virginia Beach will take Centerville Turnpike, to Kempsville Road to Indian River Road to Mount Pleasant Road.
The bridge has been operating on a limited schedule since being hit by a barge March 1, 2016. Openings were further restricted after a second barge hit the bridge June 4, further damaging the structure.
Contractors are removing and replacing damaged gear racks, as well as performing other structural repairs to the bridge.
Initial repairs were made to the bridge June 21, when contractors corrected broken gear teeth, and repaired chipped concrete.
Once the repairs are complete, the District anticipates the bridge will return to the normal operating schedule of opening every hour and half hour from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on demand at all times for commercial traffic after 7 p.m.
The Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal allows for 1-million tons of commerce to safely travel north and south along the waterway.
The North Landing Bridge handles approximately 11,000 vehicles per day under normal conditions.
The district has issued a notice to mariners and will continue to keep the boating and local communities informed through local media, its web site and social media pages.
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