STAUNTON – Traffic on Route 11 (Old Valley Pike) in Shenandoah County is scheduled to begin using the new bridge over the North Fork Shenandoah River on Saturday, July 29. The newly constructed bridge is located between Route 720 (Wissler Road) and the Mount Jackson southern town limits.

A traffic lane-shift will allow Route 11 traffic to transition to the new bridge, which was constructed just east of the existing truss bridge. Contractors for the Virginia Department of Transportation have been working since early 2022 to replace the older bridge, which dates back to 1933 and has reached the end of its service life.

After Route 11 motorists begin using the new bridge, contractors will begin removing the old bridge and finalizing the project. Drivers should be alert for shoulder closures and occasional flagger traffic control. The work-zone speed limit is 45 miles an hour.

All work is weather permitting. The traffic-shift schedule is subject to change.

The new Route 11 bridge is about 38 feet wide, which is 14 feet wider than the old structure. The additional width will accommodate two 11-foot travel lanes, an 11-foot shoulder on the west side of the bridge, and a five-foot shoulder on the east side.

In January 2022 VDOT awarded a $4.6 million construction contract to Fairfield-Echols LLC of Fishersville, Va. The project has a contract completion date of August 25, 2023.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

For updated traffic alerts and traveler information, dial 511 or visit 511Virginia.org. For other assistance call the VDOT Customer Service Center, available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR-ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia’s roads.

The VDOT Staunton District is on Facebook and Twitter. Follow VDOT statewide accounts on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube. The VDOT Web page is www.VirginiaDOT.org.

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