Virginia Department of Transportation contractor crews have closed a portion of Route 40, also known as Martin Luther King Highway, in Surry County to replace the bridge over Otterdam Swamp.

The work began Dec. 4. The road is closed to all through traffic between Laurel Drive and Hickory Hill Road, both of which are designated as Route 601.

Route 40 will be closed to commercial trucks from Route 460 (South County Drive/Rolfe Highway) to Route 10 (Colonial Trail West) with a signed truck detour in place.  

Access to all existing private property along Route 40 will be maintained at all times. 

Local traffic headed northbound on Route 40 from Waverly will use the following detour: 

• Left onto Route 601 (Laurel Drive) 
• Continue straight onto Route 607 (Huntington Road) 
• Right onto Route 612 (Otterdam Road) 
• Connect to Route 40 (Martin Luther King Highway) 

Local traffic headed southbound on Route 40 from Spring Grove will reverse the detour.  

Commercial trucks, wide- and oversized loads will be detoured from the intersection of Route 40 and Route 460, traveling through the towns of Waverly and Wakefield using the following detour:  

• Travel eastbound on Route 460 (South County Drive/General Mahone Highway)  
• Left onto Route 31 (East Main Street) 
• Left onto Route 31 (Birch Island Road)  
• Travel through the town of Dendron, continuing on Route 31 (Rolfe Highway) 
• Left onto Route 10 (Colonial Trail West) 
• Connect to Route 40 (Martin Luther King Highway)  

Commercial traffic headed southbound from Spring Grove will reverse the detour. 

The $3.17 million construction contract was awarded to Bryant Structures Inc. The project includes the demolition of the existing bridge followed by the construction of a new two-lane, two-span, multi-beam bridge, estimated to be complete as early as fall 2024.