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GI bridge closed to boat traffic until further notice

The Gwynn’s Island Bridge has been closed to boat traffic until further notice. There will be no impact to vehicle traffic.

According to a press release from the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Route 223 bridge over Milford Haven that connects Gwynn’s Island to mainland Mathews will need additional work after mechanical equipment that operates the bridge’s movable swing span experienced a failure on Wednesday evening.

More information on the repair timeline will be announced once more is known about the extent of the work and repair required, said the release, adding that no estimated schedule for reopening is currently available.

“We know that summer is a busy time on the water, and we regret that mariners that operate larger boats will not have direct access to reach the Piankatank River and Chesapeake Bay,” said Joyce McGowan, VDOT Fredericksburg District Maintenance Administrator. “We are working urgently to assess the bridge equipment to determine next steps, and we will announce more information as soon as we develop a plan to repair.”

Built in 1938, the bridge over Milford Haven opens to marine traffic approximately 3,000 times a year—more than any other state-maintained movable bridge in Virginia, said the release.

The bridge’s navigational clearance is 11 feet vertically and 80 feet horizontally when closed. Watercraft that cannot navigate underneath the bridge within this clearance requires an opening.