Route 16 Bridge Replacement in Tazewell Remains in Design, With Construction Years Away

The planned replacement of the Route 16 bridge over the Clinch River in the Town of Tazewell remains in the design phase, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation.

The Fairground Road project is not under construction, has not been awarded and is not currently advertised for bids. VDOT lists its status as In design.

What VDOT plans to replace

The existing bridge is a 22-foot-wide, two-lane, double-span structure. VDOT’s plan calls for a 30-foot-wide, two-lane, single-span replacement.

The crossing serves approximately 2,485 vehicles per day. The project is identified as UPC 113876. VDOT lists the estimated project cost at $8.44 million and describes the funding as majority federal. The spring 2026 Commonwealth Transportation Board transportation-program record lists the more precise estimate as $8,440,390.

Estimated project schedule

The current project record points to a long lead time before construction. The schedule provided for the project identifies these estimated or planned milestones:

• Right-of-way acquisition beginning in October 2026
• Bid advertisement planned for July 2028
• Estimated construction start in November 2028
• Estimated completion in June 2030

These dates are not guarantees. VDOT’s public project page summarizes the broader construction window as fall 2028 through spring 2030, while the more detailed milestones are subject to change as design, right-of-way and funding work continue.

Drivers should expect a full closure during construction

When construction begins, the road at the bridge location is planned to close completely. VDOT says a temporary detour will be used during construction.

That means the future traffic effect is expected to be different from alternating one-way traffic across the existing crossing. Drivers who use Fairground Road and the Route 16 connection will need to follow the detour while the bridge is replaced. VDOT has not identified a final detour route in the records reviewed for this update.

Public-notice update is not a construction announcement

VDOT’s public-hearing notice was last updated July 31, 2026. The notice concerns the design hearing held at Tazewell Town Hall on December 16, 2025, and confirms the project location and planned bridge dimensions. It does not announce a construction start, contract award or bid advertisement.

The current record therefore points to a project still moving through design and preparation. For Tazewell residents and commuters, no immediate bridge closure is indicated by the available record. The next major planned step is right-of-way acquisition, expected to begin in October 2026, followed later by bidding and construction if the schedule holds.

Sources

• VDOT Route 16 Bridge Replacement project page
• Commonwealth Transportation Board spring 2026 NonMPO STIP Report