A bridge maintenance project just across the Virginia line will impact motorists using US 258 during a two-month period.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will begin a project Sept. 9 on the Nottoway River Bridge, located in Southampton County, approximately two miles north of the state line.

Due to the scope of the project, VDOT officials have decided not to allow large commercial grade trucks to cross the bridge. All other vehicles will be allowed to cross, but only one lane will be open. Access to that single lane will be controlled by a traffic signal. Be prepared for delays.

Meanwhile, large trucks, particularly 18-wheelers, will have to detour around the project using NC/VA 35 to Virginia State Road 671 (General Thomas Highway) located just north of Boykins, VA. That road travels through Newsoms, VA and ends at US 58 in Franklin, VA.

According to Robert Wagner with VDOT, the project includes the application of an epoxy overlay on the deck of the bridge, as well as patching on the deck. He added that some of the bridge supports would also undergo maintenance as part of the project.

“Because the work on the bridge will be right up to the centerline for each lane, it’s safer not to allow large, commercial size trucks to cross during the entirety of this project,” Wagner said.

He expects the work to be completed by Nov. 9.

Several electronic message boards are in place in the Roanoke-Chowan area to notify truckers of the detour. Those message boards are along US 158 (east of Murfreesboro, and west of Conway), NC 35 south of Conway), US 258 south of Murfreesboro, and NC 11 south of Murfreesboro.