Cypress Creek Bridge to see fourth two-day full closure starting June 17
Published 12:40 pm Friday, June 13, 2025
- A nearly two-year rehabilitation of the Cypress Creek Bridge is expected to continue through fall 2025. (File photo)
The Cypress Creek Bridge will see its fourth two-day full closure starting June 17, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced Thursday.
Crews with project contractor Crofton Construction will close the remaining westbound lane on South Church Street at the bridge from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily with a signed detour in place. When the westbound lane reopens, eastbound traffic will continue to be diverted via Main and Grace streets to the Route 10 Bypass.
A prior May 1-2 closure facilitated the removal of the final nine existing damaged concrete beams from the two-lane, 1975 bridge that connects downtown Smithfield with the east end of town. VDOT said in a news release that the latest closure is needed to place newly fabricated bridge beams in their place using large lifting cranes and heavy equipment, which will block vehicular traffic.
Two prior multi-day closures in April and August of last year also entailed removing and replacing bridge beams. Both of the prior five-day closures ended three days ahead of schedule. When the bridge rehabilitation began in January 2024, VDOT said to expect four multi-day closures through this fall, when the bridge work is expected to be completed.
VDOT said the latest daily closures are expected to remain through June 18 with backup dates of June 19-20 in the event of a weather delay.
All pedestrian access to the bridge remains closed. VDOT stopped allowing pedestrians to use the bridge’s sidewalk in February when contractors switched westbound traffic from the eastbound lane to the westbound lane. Motorists will continue to use the westbound lane through the duration of the project.
VDOT said access to all businesses and private residences on either side of the bridge will remain accessible during the multi-day full closure.
VDOT awarded the $8.6 million contract in late 2023 to Portsmouth-based Crofton. The work includes underwater pile repairs, the demolition and replacement of 18 spans, the repainting of steel beams and replacing the bridge’s sidewalk and barriers. Much of the work to date has occurred beneath the bridge out of the view of motorists.