FREDERICKSBURG – Route 658 (Monroe Bay Circle) in Westmoreland County is now open and the detour lifted after the contractor finished a culvert replacement project four months ahead of schedule.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) accelerated the project to replace five failed metal pipes underneath the roadway with a concrete double-box culvert.
On Dec. 23, 2022, VDOT crews closed Monroe Bay Circle to traffic near Stoney Knoll after a pipe failed, which caused pavement to collapse.
In March 2023, bridge crews installed a prefabricated bridge over Monroe Creek with a traffic signal to alternate one-way traffic across the structure and reopened the road as a temporary solution.
Monroe Bay Circle closed again in Oct. 2024 as crews began work on the bridge replacement. The road was scheduled to remain closed through Sept. 2025.
The contractor, Abernathy Construction Corp., of Glen Allen, finished the $2.8 million project early, which includes permanent drainage improvements and new pavement.
Their work restored the connection over Monroe Creek before Memorial Day weekend.
Crews are still working to remove all the detour signs and traffic control devices from the work zone after installing the final pavement markings earlier today.
Before the road closed last year, an average of 1,200 vehicles a day traveled on Monroe Bay Circle.
For more information, please visit the project page on vdot.virginia.gov.
