FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The Route 223 (Old Ferry Road) bridge over Milford Haven in Mathews County is estimated to resume scheduled openings for marine traffic on Monday, May 1.

Marine openings will be limited to six times a day on a temporary basis. Openings will occur at 2 a.m., 5 a.m., 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 7 p.m., and 10 p.m.

VDOT had announced last week that scheduled marine openings would resume in mid-April. An estimated two additional weeks are needed to obtain the materials and mechanical equipment required to resume the marine openings.

The two-lane movable swing span bridge that connects Gwynn's Island with mainland Mathews was built in 1938, and is currently undergoing a $10.7 million rehabilitation project to improve the mechanical and electrical systems that operate the swing span. Marine openings at the bridge were suspended in August 2022, but work has been underway since early 2022 to fabricate specialty pieces required to operate the movable swing span.

When the bridge is open for marine traffic, motorists on Route 223 can expect to be stopped for approximately 30 minutes. If no marine traffic is present at a scheduled time, no opening will occur. In the event of an emergency on the island during an opening, the swing span will be returned to the closed position for vehicle traffic.

Repair work will continue through fall 2023. When all work is finished, the bridge will be able to resume opening for marine traffic on demand.

Due to additional time required for part fabrication, the project is continuing beyond the original scheduled completion date of April 5, 2023.

For more information and updates, visit the project page on VirginiaDOT.org.

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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.