Toll-free at last: Coleman Bridge to end toll collection early
The George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge, a vital link between York County and Gloucester, will stop collecting tolls earlier than expected, beginning at 9 p.m. on Friday. In a move to ease the financial burden on local residents and commuters, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is expediting the elimination of tolls — originally set to be removed by Jan. 1, 2026 — by nearly five months.
This decision follows Gov. Glenn Youngkin's 2025 budget amendment, which called for the cessation of toll collection, a proposal that was later adopted by the General Assembly. The bridge's tolling, which currently generates nearly $6 million annually, has been a source of financial strain on commuters despite the fact that the bond debt for the bridge's construction has already been fully paid off.
'The commonwealth of 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,' Virginia Secretary of Transportation Sheppard Miller said in a statement Tuesday.
He explained that continuing toll collection would require substantial additional investments — up to $5 million to maintain the aging tolling infrastructure — costs that will now be avoided.
The tolls — currently ranging from $0.85 to $4 — are collected only from northbound traffic traveling from York County to Gloucester, and have been in place since the bridge was rebuilt in 1995. The original tolls had been removed in 1976 after the construction debt from the first iteration of the bridge was paid off.
However, the 1995 expansion project, which widened the bridge from two to four lanes to accommodate increasing traffic, revived the tolling system.
'This is a win for Gloucester, Mathews, and our entire region — putting more money back into the pockets of hardworking Virginians and easing the burden on families who rely on this vital connection every day,' said Senate Republican Leader Ryan T. McDougle, R-Hanover.
The bridge itself, originally opened in 1952, is the largest double-swing span bridge in the U.S. and plays a crucial role in daily travel for residents and businesses on the Middle Peninsula. By removing the tolls, the state is not only relieving financial stress on commuters but also saving millions in operational and maintenance costs.
'This is a commonsense financial decision that benefits everyone who crosses the river from Yorktown to Gloucester Point,' said Sen. Danny Diggs, R-York, recalling the previous elimination of tolls when the bridge's original debt was paid off. 'I know that all of the people that use the Coleman Bridge are thrilled that the toll will be removed once again.'
The toll relief comes at a time when inflation and rising costs have made affordability a major concern for many Virginians. The bridge's toll collection, which would have needed to continue until 2034 if left in place, was projected to cost drivers upwards of $60 million.
Del. Chad Green, R-York, praised the decision, saying, 'Virginians in our Peninsula communities have more than paid their fair share, and I applaud Governor Youngkin for making this change, working with the General Assembly to get this done.'
Additionally, Del. Keith Hodges, R-Middlesex, highlighted the potential for economic growth in the region, noting that removing the tolls would make the area more attractive for new businesses and job creation, which in turn would strengthen local communities.
Work to dismantle the toll infrastructure will begin on Friday, with crews removing signage and closing two toll lanes overnight. Once the toll plaza is demolished, traffic will shift to the right lanes, allowing for uninterrupted passage across the historic York River.
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