Richmond is about to test whether the Mayo Bridge can handle traffic with half as many car lanes.
Why it matters: The experiment could determine whether that change becomes permanent when the bridge is replaced,affecting the roughly 20,000 vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists who use it daily.
Driving the news: The city will resurface the 113-year-old bridge , closing two of its four lanes daily from 9am-6pm.
- After resurfacing, crews will restripe the bridge to two travel lanes — one in each direction — and the city will use traffic data to help design its replacement.
- It’s unclear how long the pilot will last.
The intrigue: VDOT’s current concept for the years-in-the-making $190 million replacement also calls for two lanes, plus dedicated bike lanes and a separate pedestrian walkway…