VDOT Finds Issue Under Willey Bridge

The Virginia Department of Transportation said on July 31 that crews were inspecting the Edward E. Willey Bridge in Richmond after damage was reported to a wall beneath the span. The bridge carries traffic between Parham Road in Henrico County’s West End and Chippenham Parkway in South Richmond over the James River, according to WTVR. VDOT said all lanes were open as of 3 p.m. that Friday, and no injuries were reported. Local television reports said the damage was visible from Cherokee Road beneath the bridge. ### What did VDOT say it found beneath the bridge? WTVR reported on July 31 that someone had reported structural damage to a wall beneath the bridge, prompting the inspection. The station said the damaged area was visible from Cherokee Road and that it was not immediately clear how long ago the wall panel had collapsed. A separate local report, carried in a NewsBreak index of WWBT’s coverage, said routine inspections found damage tied to runoff from the bridge. (wtvr.com) That report said inspectors discovered washed-out concrete slabs, which are designed to prevent soil erosion and slope failures on the embankment below. ### Where is the Willey Bridge and who uses it? The Edward E. Willey Bridge links Parham Road on the north side of the river with Chippenham Parkway on the south side, creating one of the James River crossings used by drivers moving between Henrico County, Richmond and Chesterfield-area corridors. WTVR identified the span as the bridge over the James River between Henrico’s West End and South Richmond. (newsbreak.com) 511Virginia, the state’s traveler-information service, is the main public source for real-time lane closures and traffic conditions on state roads. VDOT’s Richmond District also publishes weekly traffic alerts listing scheduled work zones and lane restrictions across the region. ### Did officials close the bridge? VDOT told WTVR that all lanes remained open as of 3 p.m. on July 31. (wtvr.com) The agency also said no injuries had been reported in connection with the damage beneath the bridge. No VDOT traffic alert reviewed on Aug. 5 listed a Willey Bridge closure tied to the reported damage. The Richmond District’s published alerts direct drivers to 511Virginia for updated work-zone information as schedules change. (511.vdot.virginia.gov) ### What is still not clear about the damage? VDOT had not publicly posted, in the material reviewed, a detailed engineering assessment describing the full extent of the damage beneath the bridge. (wtvr.com) WTVR reported only that a wall panel beneath the structure had been reported damaged and that inspectors were examining the site. (vdot.virginia.gov) The NewsBreak summary of WWBT’s reporting gave a more specific description, saying runoff had washed out concrete slabs and that crews planned to install new pipes. Because that account appeared through an indexed summary rather than a directly accessible station article, some project details could change as VDOT releases a formal repair plan. (wtvr.com) ### What should drivers watch for next? VDOT’s next public steps are likely to appear through Richmond District traffic alerts or on 511Virginia, which the agency uses for lane-closure and road-condition updates. The state traffic-alert page published on Aug. 5 continued to direct motorists to those channels for current work-zone information. As of Aug. 5, the bridge remained a monitored site rather than a posted closure in the sources reviewed. (newsbreak.com) Any repair schedule, pipe installation, or lane restrictions tied to the Willey Bridge inspection would be announced by VDOT or reflected on 511Virginia as work is scheduled. (vdot.virginia.gov)