The main channel under the George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge was reopened to marine traffic Sunday, Coast Guard officials said, after being closed for five days so a submarine cable that provides electricity for the bridge could be replaced.

Lt. Karen Lee, a spokesman for the Waterways Management Division for the U.S. Coast Guard in Norfolk, said Tuesday that the main channel was closed at 6 a.m. Tuesday and remained closed until 11:59 p.m. Saturday.

The closure went smoothly, and the Coast Guard did not receive any complaints because the channel’s closure had been widely publicized in the maritime community, Lee said.

Although boat traffic was impacted by the project, Jennifer Gwaltney, a spokesman for the Virginia Department of Transportation, said that the work under the Coleman did not impede vehicular traffic on the bridge.

Gwaltney said the project is necessary to replace a submarine cable that was damaged by a tugboat in late 2008. The work is finally being cond...