TRAFFIC ALERT: ROUTE 743 IN CARROLL COUNTY CLOSES TO THROUGH TRAFFIC

Beginning Tuesday, April 29, the Route 743 (Pleasant View Road) bridge over Handy Creek in Carroll County will be closed to through traffic.  During a routine inspection of the bridge, inspectors observed an increased rate of deterioration of the pipe arch and determined that the bridge should be closed to traffic. 

The Route 743 bridge over Handy Creek is located in the northern part of Carroll County, west of Interstate 77, 0.4 miles from Route 745 and 1.3 miles from Route 796. 

Motorists should seek alternate routes around the closure.  The bridge is expected to remain closed to through traffic for at least eight months. 

Detour signs will be in place to advise motorists of a detour. 

From the north: Traffic will be diverted onto Route 52 south, then west onto Route 620 (Coulson Church Road) and then west onto Route 740 (Rescue Road) back to Route 743.

From the south: Traffic will be diverted east onto Route 740 (Rescue Road), to east on Route 620 (Coulson Church Road) and then north onto Route 52 back to Route 743.

Whenever VDOT identifies bridges with structural concerns, immediate action is taken to post weight limits, detour traffic and repair these structures before traffic is allowed back on them.

The Route 743 bridge is a pipe arch structure that was built in 1981. The bridge carries approximately 440 vehicles per day.  It is currently inspected every month and most recently had a weight restriction of 15 tons.  

VDOT inspects all its bridges at least once every two years unless there are issues with a structure due to age, deterioration, bridge damage or other known concerns.  In these cases, more frequent inspections are conducted.