Virginia DOT Moves to Reduce Wrecks on James River Bridge

Metal studs will be installed on the James River Bridge’s new steel grid deck in a move to reduce accidents.

Media outlets report that Virginia Department of Transportation officials announced the project Wednesday. They also released a three-month safety analysis that shows there were 17 deck-related accidents through June. That’s more than the total number of accidents during the previous six years.

VDOT Hampton Roads district manager Jim Utterback says most of the accidents occurred when the deck was wet. The studs will provide more friction.

About 30,000 vehicles cross the four-and-half-mile long bridge between Newport News and Isle of Wight County every day.