Batesville area bridge to close June 12 through June 27

Those who use Plank Road to get through southern Albemarle County may want to plan for other routes later this month. 

The Virginia Department of Transportation has announced a bridge over the Mechums River near Batesville will be closed from June 12 through June 27 to allow for a replacement of the superstructure. 

“During the closure traffic on the west side of Batesville will detour using Route 692 to U.S. 250 (Rockfish Gap Turnpike) to Interstate 64, exit 107 at Crozet, east to exit 118 U.S. 29 (Seminole Trail), then south to Route 692,” reads the press release. “Traffic east of Batesville will reverse the detour route. Access to all private entrances will be maintained on both sides of the bridge.”

The bridge has a current capacity of 17 tons and carries an average of 970 vehicles a day. 

Many residents of the Batesville area have expressed concern that more tractor trailers will use the road after the bridge is expanded. For more information, read Lisa Martin’s April 7 article in the Crozet Gazette. 

In May, Supervisors formally requested that VDOT conduct a study on issuing a restriction on through trucks on Plank Road. 

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