Coast Guard closes waterway near James River Bridge

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Coast Guard Captain of the Port closed the waterway half a mile in each direction from the James River Bridge this morning due to power lines falling in the water Wednesday evening near the bridge.

Coast Guard Station Portsmouth and Virginia Marine Resource Commission personnel are protecting the safety zone as Dominion Power works to remove the power lines from the water.

Sector Hampton Roads personnel are transmitting a Safety Marine Information Broadcast to notify mariners of the closure and are informing their port partners.

"The waterway is closed," said Lt. Michael Snyder, a watchstander at Sector Hampton Roads. "If you come up from either direction VMRC or the Coast Guard will not let you pass through until it is safe."

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