RELEASE: CONTACT:

IMMEDIATE Lou Hatter 540-829-7537 Louis.Hatter@VDOT.Virginia.gov Odile Brookings 540-829-7394

CULP-054 June 27, 2006

Westbound Lane Closed at Old Ivy Road Bridge

CHARLOTTESVILLE – The westbound lane on the Route 601 (Old Ivy Road) bridge over the U.S. 250 bypass west of Charlottesville will be closed indefinitely after significant damage to a supporting beam was discovered during an inspection Tuesday morning. The bridge deck was hit by a truck Monday afternoon.

Due to the extent of the damage engineers from the Virginia Department of Transportation determined that it was not advisable to allow westbound traffic to travel over the damaged beam. Route 601 westbound will be closed at the bridge. Eastbound traffic will not be affected by the closure.

VDOT’s bridge engineers are studying options to repair the bridge but at this time there is no timetable for repairs and reopening the westbound lane.