FREDERICKSBURG – Route 17 northbound travelers crossing the George P. Coleman Bridge from York County into Gloucester County will encounter brief overnight traffic stops and single lane closures between 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, through 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, as crews accomplish sign and pavement marking work to support the removal of tolls at the bridge that evening.
Starting at 8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, tolls will no longer be charged to northbound Route 17 motorists crossing the Coleman Bridge. Overhead message boards at the bridge will display a “No Toll – Proceed Slowly” message to travelers starting at this time.
Route 17 northbound will be reduced to a single lane overnight at the bridge between 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, and 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9. Brief, intermittent traffic stops for up to 20-minute intervals will also occur between 8 p.m. Friday and 5 a.m. Saturday.
Route 17 southbound will also be reduced to a single lane at the bridge for a short duration between 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, and 5 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, for the removal of a single sign near the median.
Tolls will be lifted at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8, regardless of weather conditions. Associated road work may be postponed due to rain, and would be rescheduled to occur from 9 p.m. Saturday, August 9, to 5 a.m. Sunday, August 10.
Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) crews will remove or cover signs that reference tolling or E-ZPass information. For overhead signs that will remain in place, modifications will be made to cover tolling and E-Z Pass information.
Crews will also eradicate existing pavement markings at the toll plaza and install temporary markings. Starting at 5 a.m. Saturday, all Route 17 northbound traffic will be directed to travel through the three former tollbooth lanes closest to the right shoulder. The two E-ZPass-only lanes will be closed. Demolition of the bridge’s toll plaza will not occur until spring 2026.
The speed limit is currently 35 mph at the toll plaza. Advisory 20 mph speed limit signs will be temporarily installed in the vicinity of the former toll collection point, as vehicles will be navigating through the toll plaza structure until after demolition is complete.
Currently, the Coleman Bridge is the largest double-swing span bridge in the United States and spans 3,750 feet across the York River. VDOT will continue to maintain and operate the bridge once tolls are removed.
Read Governor Glenn Youngkin’s announcement on the Aug. 8 removal of tolls from Coleman Bridge: News release
