A bill directing the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to explore building a new bridge over the James River has passed—just before the close of the Virginia General Assembly.
Senate Joint Resolution 263, sponsored by Sen. Lashrecse D. Aird (D-13th), directs VDOT to study “the need and options for constructing a bridge” from Surry County to James City County or Charles City County.
The bill states that Surry County, located across the James, is seeing an increase in visitors to its idyllic, Scenic Rivers-designated shoreline, in part because of a recent broadband access project that brought high-speed internet to the county. The bill also points out that Dominion Energy’s Surry Power Station, adjacent to the Hog Island Wildlife Management Area, employs thousands of Virginians.
According to the bill, more housing inventory and reliable transportation infrastructure is needed to support all of this growth.
Chesapeake Bay Magazine‘s feature on Surry County, “A Virginia Jewel Hides in Plain Sight on the James River,” was one of our top-clicked articles in 2024. One of the major appeals of the destination is the free VDOT car ferry you take across the James, a scenic 20-minute ride, to reach it. (The Jamestown-Scotland ferry system celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. The restored deckhouse of the original ferry vessel, Capt. John Smith, is at the Surry County Historical Society and Museums.)
Unfortunately, the reliability of the Jamestown-Scotland ferry has come into question when VDOT started experiencing worsening staffing shortages for ferry operators. In early July 2024, VDOT announced a new schedule with reduced service, attributed to “an industry-wide shortage of critical, certified maritime positions.” The ferry was able to maintain 24/7 service, but the number of ferries at certain times was reduced.
The bill states that a new bridge connecting the shores is not only desperately needed to guarantee a reliable crossing, it would also benefit transportation throughout Hampton Roads. It stipulates that the location of any potential infrastructure must be carefully chosen to ensure the route wouldn’t impact Jamestown or any other historical assets in Virginia.
The feasibility study is more general and broad than that of a 2024 bill introduced by Del. Kim Taylor (R-82nd). That legislation failed because its directives to evaluate the benefit to the region, create a draft design, develop a cost estimate, and evaluate funding options, were too costly. It also called for a one-year turnaround time for completion of the report.
The successful 2025 legislation requires VDOT to launch the feasibility study and complete its meetings by Nov. 30, 2026, then submit a report of its findings and recommendations no later than the start of the 2027 General Assembly Regular Session. At that point, it would be made public.
