This story was reported and written by our media partner the Virginia Mercury.
With increasing demand for travel across the James River and recent ferry service disruptions, Virginia lawmakers are taking a closer look at a potential bridge connecting Surry County to James City County or Charles City County.
On Thursday, the General Assembly approved a resolution, sponsored by Sen. Lashrecse Aird, D-Petersburg, directing the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to study the feasibility of constructing the bridge.
Aird said that Surry County’s recent broadband and data infrastructure investments have boosted economic opportunities and tourism, but transportation limitations remain a roadblock to future growth.
“[Surry County is] in a very successful period of of their history with its increase to broadband, they position themselves to be a more competitive community, but their disadvantage at this time is that the limited infrastructure for transportation that they have in place makes it difficult for them to attract new industry, companies and businesses,” Aird said last month.”And so we are asking that a study would be conducted.”
The measure comes after VDOT reduced the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry schedule last summer due to a shortage of certified chief engineers and employees on protected leave statuses. While the issue was resolved, it sparked community discussions on preventing future disruptions, addressing the ongoing maritime workforce shortage, and exploring new transportation solutions.
Last year, Del. Kim Taylor, R-Petersburg, introduced a resolution to explore a bridge starting at Hog Island in Surry County, near a Dominion Energy nuclear plant and a state wildlife management area. However, the measure failed in the House Rules Committee after an engineering study for the project was projected to cost over $1.6 million.
Taylor said in a statement she remains committed to ensuring the existing Jamestown-Scotland Ferry remains “reliable” and “accessible.”
Meanwhile, Aird successfully advanced a scaled-down version of the bridge study this session. Rather than a detailed planning and environmental study, Aird’s resolution directs VDOT to conduct a broad feasibility review of potential connection points across the James River, without committing to a specific route like the Hog Island proposal.
The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry, the largest of three state-operated ferry systems in Virginia, remains a critical link between Jamestown in James City County and Surry County.
In 2023, the free ferry service transported an average of 2,185 vehicles per day, an increase from 1,922 in 2020, reflecting growing demand since the pandemic. However, ridership has yet to return to its 2019 pre-pandemic average of 2,506 daily trips.
The resolution states that a bridge connecting Surry County to James City or Charles City County is “desperately needed” to accommodate new growth in the area while also improving transportation throughout the Hampton Roads region.
According to the amended resolution, VDOT must complete its study by Nov. 30, 2026, with final recommendations due before the 2027 General Assembly session.
Among the key concerns surrounding a potential bridge are its environmental impact, proximity to historical sites, and the selection of connection points that would best serve the region’s long-term infrastructure needs.
