Elbow Road bridge reopens ahead of schedule, but lane controls remain

The Elbow Road bridge near the Chesapeake–Virginia Beach city line reopened to vehicle traffic on Thursday, July 2, about six weeks ahead of the construction timeline.

The full closure has ended, but the Chesapeake bridge replacement project is still in its finishing phase. A city notice last updated July 30 says intermittent lane closures and flagging operations may continue as needed through approximately October 2026.

What changed for Chesapeake drivers

Drivers can use the bridge again instead of avoiding the crossing during a full vehicle closure. Chesapeake says the project is approximately six weeks ahead of schedule.

The reopening does not mean every construction activity is finished. Crews may still need roadway access, and temporary traffic controls could require vehicles to move through the area one direction at a time or under a flagger’s direction.

What to expect through approximately October

The city has not described the lane closures as continuous. Instead, it says closures and flagging will occur as needed to complete construction activities, with additional information to be provided when available.

That means commuters should distinguish between two conditions: the bridge is open to vehicle traffic, but travel through the work area can still be affected temporarily. Drivers should check Chesapeake traffic notices before traveling for information about planned or active lane controls.

Why the bridge was replaced

The existing bridge crosses spillway waters from the Stumpy Lake reservoir. Chesapeake’s project page says the bridge was structurally deficient and that spillway waters had overtopped the bridge deck during prior heavy storms.

The replacement is designed to place the new bridge above the 100-year flood elevation while also accounting for sea-level rise. The project page says the Elbow Road corridor carries more than 10,000 vehicles per day on average.

A separate Virginia Beach project

Virginia Beach also lists an Elbow Road roadway project, but it is separate from Chesapeake’s bridge replacement. The neighboring project involves a longer roadway improvement extending from Salem Road to Stumpy Lake and has a listed completion date of March 25, 2028.

That separate work does not change the status of the Chesapeake bridge reopening. For Chesapeake-area commuters, the immediate takeaway is that the bridge is open again, while intermittent lane closures and flagging remain possible as crews complete the project.

Sources

• Chesapeake Elbow Road bridge project notice
• Virginia Beach Elbow Road Extended project