Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge

The Benjamin Harrison Memorial Bridge is a vertical-lift bridge crossing the James River between Prince George County and Charles City County near Hopewell. It uses a lifting mechanism in its towers to raise the span and allow riverboat traffic to pass underneath.

The bridge opened in 1966 to replace ferry service that previously crossed the James River. It was extensively rebuilt following a 1977 collision with the cargo ship SS Marine Floridian.

Named after Benjamin Harrison, the 23rd President of the United States, who maintained strong connections to his birth state of Virginia.

The bridge can be accessed via State Route 156 and serves as a key transportation corridor connecting the two counties. When riverboat traffic needs to pass, the lift mechanism raises the roadway temporarily, so traffic is stopped during these periods.

The bridge towers contain nesting boxes for peregrine falcons, supporting the reestablishment of this bird species across Virginia. Several breeding pairs have made their homes in these tower structures over the years.

Official opening: 1966

GPS coordinates: 37.31889,-77.22389

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:46