Area Bridge Closure To Impact VSU Homecoming Events And Traffic Flow To Campus

Virginia State University has announced significant changes to this year's Homecoming events due to traffic adjustments that will impact access to campus. In May, The Virginia Department of Transportation closed the Appomattox River Canal Bridge for repairs. The bridge provides direct access from Petersburg to VSU. The VSU Homecoming parade, which traditionally crosses the bridge as part of its route, has been reduced to a much smaller and shorter parade that will primarily process through campus. See the updated parade route.

Meanwhile, the thousands of participants who plan to attend the events during Homecoming week, October 8-14, 2023, will NOT be able to access campus from Petersburg via the bridge. While the road will be blocked due to the repairs, pedestrians can still use a footpath to cross the river, but there is no parking in the area.

The best way to access the campus will be through Colonial Heights to the campus North Gate in Ettrick. The South Gate or Petersburg entrance will be open to traffic from Chesterfield Avenue on Friday and Saturday of Homecoming weekend.

All students, faculty, staff, alums, and members of the community planning to attend Homecoming are encouraged to arrive earlier than usual due to expected traffic delays. Paid parking will be available at the Multi-Purpose Center (MPC) until the lot is full. Only electronic forms of parking payment will be accepted. Free parking will be available at Ettrick Elementary School on a first-come, first-serve basis.

View additional Homecoming information.