Virginia Ends Tolls on Bridge Outside Newport News
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One-way tolls are no longer being collected from some 33,000 vehicles daily traveling in Virginia on the along Route 17 outside Newport News ahead of a Jan. 1 deadline.
Virginia “has fulfilled its obligation to repay the bond debt for the Coleman Bridge, so it’s time to stop asking Virginians to pay tolls on this facility, and we are doing so five months early,” said state Transportation Secretary W. Sheppard Miller III. “There are extensive costs required to continue tolling, and we believe that the toll money collected would be better off in the hands of taxpayers.”
The ended toll collection Aug. 8. Earlier this year, the General Assembly approved Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s budget amendment to eliminate tolls on the Coleman Bridge by Jan. 1.
“Eliminating tolls on the Coleman Bridge is more than just a financial decision, it’s a commitment to easing the burden on families, commuters and local businesses who rely on this vital connection every day,” Youngkin said recently. “This move also reflects our broader dedication to making life more affordable and accessible across the commonwealth, supporting economic growth while enhancing the quality of life for all Virginians.”
Big win for Virginia drivers! Starting August 8, the Coleman Bridge, a vital link between Yorktown and Gloucester Point, will be toll-free, saving Virginians nearly $60 million. This historic bridge, the largest double-swing span in the U.S., will continue connecting families,… — Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA)
Since the current tolling infrastructure on the bridge is at the end of its useful life, Virginia would have to invest nearly $5 million to continue collecting bridge tolls.
The state will now avoid these additional costs by removing the tolls and any future investment in tolling infrastructure. The elimination of tolls also is expected to result in economic relief to local communities.
Bridge tolls had brought in about $6 million annually, with nearly half spent on toll collection operations.
During 2023, an average of 30,000 vehicles a day crossed the Coleman Bridge in both directions on Route 17 between Gloucester and York counties.
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“Most vehicles (98%) crossing the bridge in 2023 were passenger vehicles. Trucks were 2% of traffic crossing the bridge,” said Kelly Hannon, VDOT’s Fredericksburg district communications manager. “For the first half of fiscal year 2025 (July 2024-December 2024), toll revenue was $2.8 million. Vehicles with three or more axles represented 2.6% of the transactions and 8.5% of the toll revenue.”
VDOT will continue to maintain and operate the bridge. Tolls only had been collected on the Coleman Bridge’s northbound traffic from York County to Gloucester County primarily to repay bond debt used to fund a bridge expansion in 1996.
Opening in 1952, the Coleman Bridge is the largest U.S. double-swing-span bridge, extending 3,750 feet over the York River. The bridge was last expanded 29 years ago from two lanes to four to handle more traffic.
“By removing tolls on the Coleman Bridge, we’re unburdening middle Peninsula residents and opening the door to economic development and good-paying jobs that help keep our families and communities together,” Delegate M. Keith Hodges said.
The tollbooth infrastructure is scheduled to be demolished next spring.
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