RICHMOND, VA — September 17, 2025 — Pocahontas Parkway is announcing a series of training exercises by Chesterfield Fire and Rescue from September 24 through 26 that may catch the eye of motorists traveling nearby.
The training will help prepare emergency personnel in the event that a bridge rescue is needed. It will include a trapped motorist exercise with fire and EMS professionals rappelling from the side of a currently unused on-ramp lane from Pocahontas Parkway to interstate 95.
The training was inspired by a real-life incident that happened on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in June 2023. On that day, a tractor-trailer tore through a guardrail and fell 25 feet over the side of the bridge, resulting in a multi-agency search and rescue operation.
“We understand that motorists may be alarmed seeing people rappelling down the side of route 895, but this training is critical in ensuring fire and EMS are ready for anything,” said Mark Huffman, Maintenance Manager from Pocahontas Parkway.
The mock accident training will take place on the Pocahontas Parkway Bridge, specifically at an unused on-ramp area intended for southbound I-95. This location provides a safe, elevated space away from traffic, with additional room below for support units. The scenario will simulate a vehicle hanging from the bridge with a person inside. While no actual vehicle will be used, a training dummy may be placed to represent the victim.
During the training exercise, the eastbound shoulder of the bridge will be closed. Message boards will be positioned to alert drivers during the training.
Pocahontas Parkway, also known as VA State Route 895 or Pocahontas 895, opened in May 2002, marking the first Virginia highway project funded under the Commonwealth’s Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995. The four-lane, ten-mile toll road offers seamless access across the greater Richmond region, serving as a vital connection to key routes throughout Virginia.
About Pocahontas Parkway
Pocahontas Parkway is a 10.4-mile toll road in Greater Richmond, Virginia, that is operated by privately held Pocahontas Parkway Operations, LLC, under an agreement with the Virginia Department of Transportation. With an elevated bridge crossing the James River, Pocahontas Parkway, also known as Va. State Route 895, is located southeast of Richmond and connects I-95 and Chippenham Parkway (Va. State Route 150) with Interstate 295 to create a commuter-friendly southern bypass of the city. Used by more than 6 million vehicles annually, it is the only crossing of the James River for six miles in either direction. With open road tolling, customers with E-ZPass® may travel without stopping to pay tolls. Pocahontas Parkway is managed by Globalvia.
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