A major rehabilitation project continues at the John Andrew Twigg Bridge, which carries Route 3 over the Piankatank River between Mathews and Middlesex counties. Traffic will be stopped at the span for five-minute periods today to position equipment.

The short traffic stops are necessary to relocate equipment to pour concrete for a new deck on a portion of the bridge, said Virginia Department of Transportation spokesman Kelly Hannon. Similar traffic stops were also planned for Jan. 30.

The brief closures will occur at various time between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Traffic in both directions between Mathews and Middlesex counties will be stopped several times during the six-hour period.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded a $10.9 million contract to Precon Marine, Inc. to repair the Twigg Bridge. Work began in the spring 2012 and the project completion date is May 2014.

The project will rehabilitate the two-lane bridge, replacing its deck, fenders and superstructure. Also, the project includes repairs to portions of the bridge substructure under a separate $1.7 million contract CTB has with Crofton Diving Corporation to replace the fenders, which protect the piers and piles of the span and also protect boats if they bump into them.

The existing bridge was built 60 years ago.

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