Beginning Saturday, May 31 through Friday, June 8, 2025 between the hours of 7 am – 2 pm and weather permitting, the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will be performing its annual floodwall testing. For the duration of the testing at the Mayo Bridge, the bridge will be closed to ALL forms of vehicular traffic to include motorists and bicyclists. Additionally, it will be closed to all foot traffic. Traffic impacts will be intermittent at all locations throughout the testing hours.

During testing, only City of Richmond personnel and officials are permitted on site. Spectators are not allowed to be present as these areas will have restricted access due to public safety concerns.

The following is a schedule of the dates and locations along the floodwall that testing will occur: 

While floodwall testing is taking place, motorists will be detoured to adjoining streets. Barricades and signs will be posted to alert motorists. We strongly appeal to all travelers to obey signage to protect the safety of all, including the utility workers.

Richmond’s floodwall gates are tested once a year in accordance with the Army Corps of Engineers standards to ensure operability when they are needed and were last tested in June 2024. The last activation of a floodwall occurred in February 2025 with the activation of the Dock Street floodwall, which closed Dock Street between 17^th and 21^st Streets. This activation was a cautionary measure in response to heavy rains in western parts of the James River Basin area.