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Yorktown Creek Bridge: original 1955 construction (left); deck demolition in 2025 (center); deck replacement 2026 (right).
NPS Photo
In 2023, the National Park Service (NPS), in partnership with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), launched a four-year, $123 million project to restore the historic Colonial Parkway.
Funded by the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), this once-in-a-generation investment will restore and extend the life of approximately 10 miles of the Colonial Parkway. The work includes:
Rehabilitating pavement and shoulders
Repairing 11 bridges and the Williamsburg Tunnel
Improving drainage and stormwater systems
Upgrading signs and guardrails
—all while preserving the aesthetic integrity and historic character that makes this road so unique.
The Parkway Rehabilitation is in its final phase
We anticipate that some sections will be completed and reopened by summer of 2026, with the entire Parkway reopening by late fall of 2026. We will announce these openings on the project webpage and through email updates. Please continue to check back on this page as your primary source for updates and information.
Please note: Construction will temporarily pause in certain segments to accommodate increased visitation for this summer’s Signature 250th events (see timeline below), including the Sail Yorktown Festival (June 12-14) and July 4th festivities. Construction in these areas will resume promptly after these events to help ensure project completion by late fall 2026.
We truly appreciate the public’s patience and support as we undertake these once-in-a-generation improvements. Our priority remains delivering a high-quality Parkway that will serve the public for years to come. We look forward to welcoming you back later this year to once again enjoy the scenic and historic Colonial Parkway experience.
Join our mailing list! Email us. The address is: COLO_Parkway_Rehab@nps.gov.
Current Detour Map
The following map shows the current detours and closures. We ask all travelers to follow all posted detour and caution signs and remain alert for workers, equipment, and changing traffic patterns. Your cooperation helps keep both crews and visitors safe while this important work is underway.
Colonial Parkway Detour Map
NPS Graphic
Current Project Timeline & Map
NPS
Below is the anticipated timeline for segment openings and closures.
Please note: from June 10 through July 6, 2026, construction on the Colonial Parkway from Ballard Street to Penniman Road will pause, and this section will be temporarily opened to accommodate the significant visitation anticipated for this summer’s Signature 250th events, including the Sail Yorktown Festival (June 12–14) and July 4th festivities. The area will close again after these events, and construction will resume to help ensure project completion by late fall 2026.
Workers stand on a makeshift bridge and use pressure washers to expose the aggregate in newly poured slabs, creating the historic exposed‑aggregate finish.
NPS
Construction Update - May 2026
We are excited to report crews have made substantial progress across the project.
As of Friday May, 15, all work in the section between Parkway Drive and Newport Avenue in Williamsburg, including the Williamsburg Tunnel, is complete and the section of the Parkway is now open.
We remain on schedule to complete the full project by late fall of 2026.
The latest status of each segment:
Segment A (Ballard Street to Fusiliers Redoubt Ramp): Crews have finished installing all new pavement panels. Current work includes grading and stabilizing shoulders, installing new timber guardrail, and erecting new roadway signs. Bridge crews also continue reinstalling brick facing on the Yorktown Creek Bridge parapet walls.
Segments D&E (Felgates Creek to Penniman Road): Crews are currently performing punch list work, including final cleanup and shoulder stabilization.
Segment F (Penniman Road to Parkway Drive): Crews are wrapping up subgrade stabilization work; once completed all subgrade stabilization work across the entire project will be complete. Crews also continue constructing new concrete pavement panels between Hubbard Lane and Parkway Drive.
In Segment G1 (Newport Avenue to Route 199): Crews continue constructing new concrete pavement panels.
In Segment G2 (Parkway Drive to Newport Avenue): All work is complete and section is now open.
Below is the latest status of the additional projects within the Parkway Project Corridor:
Jones Mill Pond Dam: Crews have almost completed grading, stabilizing, and armoring of the upstream side, including turfing and planting. Workers have also replaced the top edge of the spillway. Masons are repointing and cleaning brickwork on both sides of the spillway. Crews are regrading and armoring the downstream side and are installing new drains to help manage runoff.
Additional Bridges: Scheduled work on the Indian Field Creek Bridge and North Pier Access Bridge is now complete. Work on the Mine Depot Road Bridge will resume in July.
Please note: from June 10 through July 6, 2026, construction in Segments A-F (Ballard Street to Penniman Road) will temporarily pause, and this area will temporarily reopen to accommodate the significant visitation anticipated for this summer’s Signature 250th events, including the Sail Yorktown Festival (June 12–14) and July 4th festivities. After these events, the area will close again so construction can resume and remain on track for completion by late fall 2026.
Project FAQS
What is the Colonial Parkway Rehabilitation Project?
The Colonial Parkway Rehabilitation Project is a once‑in‑a‑generation investment to restore and extend the life of approximately 10 miles of the Colonial Parkway. Much of the Parkway’s infrastructure is approaching 90 years old, and comprehensive rehabilitation is needed to address aging systems, improve safety, and preserve its historic character.
The project includes:
Rehabilitating pavement and shoulders
Repairing 11 bridges and the Williamsburg Tunnel
Improving drainage and stormwater systems
Upgrading signs and guardrails
—all while preserving the aesthetic integrity and historic character that makes this road so unique.
Rehabilitation work will:
Eliminate hazards such as potholes and settlement
Strengthen bridges and drainage systems
Improve tunnel lighting
Preserve the Parkway’s iconic appearance
The result will be a safer, smoother, and more scenic experience for the next 40–50 years.
Colonial National Historical Park was successful in receving one of the largest GAOA transportation investments in the country. This project marks the first comprehensive rehabilitation since the Parkway’s full length opened in 1957.
Who is doing the work?
This project is managed by the Federal Highways Administration (FHWA) in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS) through a design-build team that includes a prime contractor, design specialists, and approximately 30 subcontractors.
When will the Colonial Parkway fully reopen?
The Colonial Parkway is expected to fully reopen by late fall 2026, once all remaining infrastructure and preservation work is completed. Some segments may reopen earlier if they meet required safety and quality standards.
Updates will continue to be posted on the project webpage and shared through email notifications as the work progresses.
What work still needs to be completed on the Colonial Parkway?
The park was awarded additional GAOA and Federal Lands Transportation Program funding to address other major infrastructure and deferred maintenance projects within the Parkway corridor. Additional time is also needed to ensure that the workmanship maintains the aesthetic craftsmanship and historic character the Colonial Parkway is known for.
Jones Mill Pond Dam Rehabilitation Project: This earthen dam supports approximately 600 feet of Parkway roadway. Remaining work includes armoring the dam to modern standards and upgrading safety features such as monitoring devices and guardrails.
Bridge Rehabilitation Projects: Multiple bridges require critical maintenance, including full deck replacement and masonry restoration, to extend their lifespan and improve overall safety.
Aesthetic and Historic Character Work: Upholding the NPS standards for aesthetic craftsmanship and historical integrity that defines the Colonial Parkway has been a challenge. Portions of earlier work are being redone to meet National Park Service standards for aesthetic quality and historical integrity.
Completing these projects together reduces the need for future closures and helps preserve the Parkway’s historic character for generations to come.
Why is maintaining the Colonial Parkway’s historic character so important?
The Colonial Parkway is more than a road—it’s a living piece of American history and a cultural treasure. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, designated an All-American Road, and celebrated as “one of the finest parkway archetypes in the country,” it offers visitors a one-of-a-kind experience.
Preserving its original design ensures that future generations can enjoy the same scenic beauty, craftsmanship, and historic character that make the Parkway extraordinary. Every rehabilitation effort honors its legacy while enhancing safety and durability for decades to come.
How will the project preserve the Parkway’s historic look and feel?
Maintaining the Colonial Parkway’s iconic aesthetic is a top priority. The project carefully replicates its historic exposed-aggregate concrete roadway, restores brick bridges and culverts, and safeguards the cultural landscape that makes this scenic route so unique. All improvements are designed to enhance longevity without compromising the Parkway’s character and timeless beauty.
What steps are involved in creating an authentic, historically accurate aggregate surface?
Exposed aggregate paving is a longer, more labor-intensive process than traditional blacktop repaving. This project requires full-depth roadway reconstruction, including subgrade rehabilitation and installation of the final exposed aggregate driving surface.
The NPS is committed to maintaining the same level of craftsmanship and aesthetic quality that the Colonial Parkway was originally built to. All new construction is held to these high standards to preserve the Parkway’s cultural and historic significance for future generations.
The goal: Ensure the roadway remains safe and durable for another 50+ years while preserving its historic character.
Which areas are currently closed, and what detours should I use?
All segments within the project limits are currently closed to traffic. Please follow posted detours and check the project webpage for the most up-to-date maps and reopening information.
What determines whether a segment can reopen?
Before reopening, each section must pass safety inspections and meet quality standards for aesthetic quality, historic character, pavement, drainage, bridges, and tunnel systems.
How will the Williamsburg Tunnel look different?
The tunnel is being rehabilitated with new LED lighting and structural repairs. These upgrades improve safety while respecting the Parkway’s historic character.
North entrance of the Williamsburg Tunnel, halfway through lighting installation. Fixtures are installed on the left side and not yet installed on the right.
