Virginia Department of Transportation officials announced Wednesday that the much-criticized closure of the crossover on Route 17 by the Gloucester Library will not be as lengthy an inconvenience as was previously forecast.

Now the crossover is expected to be closed for only a matter of weeks, not for many months.

Originally, VDOT officials said the crossover would be closed for most of the time the southbound bridge at Fox Mill Run was being rebuilt through much of 2012, said Kelly Hannon, an agency spokesman. However, a review of the plans shortly before the extended Christmas break found that the crossover would have to be closed only for about two weeks when the bridge project resumes by mid-January.

The change in plans happened so quickly, and right before the holidays, that VDOT has not even had time to notify businesses at the affected Main Street Center about its revised plans, Hannon said Wednesday. "This is great news," she said.

The change in the crossove...