Route 761 at Clarke-Frederick county line reopens after bridge replacement

STAUNTON — Route 761 (Old Charles Town Road) at the Clarke-Frederick county line reopened this afternoon (Wednesday, Nov. 5) following the replacement of the bridge over Opequon Creek.

Since early February, Route 761 had been closed to through traffic between the intersections of Route 666 (Gun Club Road) and Route 661 (Wadesville Road), requiring motorists to take detours around the construction.

The new bridge replaces one that was nearly a century old and had reached the end of its service life. It was a low-water, single-lane structure that frequently flooded. The new bridge is roughly five feet higher and can carry two lanes of traffic. The new bridge will enhance safety and improve traffic flow on Route 761.

The Virginia Department of Transportation in November 2024 awarded a $3.4 million construction contract to Fairfield-Echols, LLC of Fishersville. Although the new bridge is open to traffic, Route 761 motorists should be alert for shoulder closures or occasional flagger traffic control through the project’s final completion in spring 2026.

All work is weather permitting.

The VDOT Staunton District serves Frederick, Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, Page, Rockingham, Augusta, Highland, Rockbridge, Alleghany and Bath counties.

Obtain traffic alerts and traveler information by dialing 511 or visiting https://511.vdot.virginia.gov/.

For other assistance, call the VDOT Customer Service Center, available 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week. Citizens can dial 1-800-FOR- ROAD (1-800-367-7623) from anywhere in the state to report road hazards, ask transportation questions, or get information related to Virginia’s roads.

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