Centerpiece Top Story A dozen years after closure, construction begins on McMullin Bridge's replacement SPorter Aug 17, 2026 Aug 17, 2026 0 1 of 2 Construction began Monday on the McMullin Bridge replacement. The bridge was closed in early 2014. Stephanie Porter-Nichols/Smyth County News & Messenger Image courtesy of the Virginia Department of Transportation Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save SPorter More than 12 years after the McMullin Bridge was closed, construction began Monday on its replacement.kAm%96 3C:586[ 2 AC:>2CJ 2446DD C@FE6 E@ E96 w2== p55:E:@? ?6:893@C9@@5[ H2D 4=@D65 :? y2?F2CJ a_`c 27E6C ':C8:?:2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 %C2?DA@CE2E:@? :?DA64E@CD 7@F?5 E92E :E H2D 7C24EFC6 4C:E:42=[ >62?:?8 :7 @?6 A2CE @7 E96 3C:586 7C24EFC65[ E96 DECF4EFC6 H@F=5 72:=] 's~% :?DA64E@CD 56E6C>:?65 E92E C6A2:C:?8 E96 3C:586 H2D?’E A@DD:3=6] xE H@F=5 92G6 E@ 36 C6A=2465]k^AmkAmp44@C5:?8 E@ 's~%[ E96 2C62 42CC:6D 2AAC@I:>2E6=J hd_ G69:4=6D A6C 52J]k^Am kAm%96 #E] ee_ 3C:586’D 4=@DFC6 =67E >2?J :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ 766=:?8 :D@=2E65 2?5 D66<:?8 24E:@?] |6>36CD @7 E96 $>JE9 r@F?EJ q@2C5 @7 $FA6CG:D@CD 92G6 =@33:65 7@C J62CD E@ 86E E96 3C:586 C6A=2465 2?5[ 2E E:>6D[ 6>6C86?4J 7:CDE C6DA@?56CD ;@:?65 E96 42>A2:8? H@CC:65 23@FE A@E6?E:2==J 56=2J65 C6DA@?D6D]k^Am People are also reading… Smyth man accused of forging military document Proposed zoning regs for data centers head to Smyth supervisors Virginia Tech's Franklin: Hokies focus on toppling crown Saltville readies for 55th Labor Day celebration David Hoffmann: Local news can bring communities together No mercy: Smyth prosecutor, victim's nephew fight murderer's parole Chilhowie to consider joining Virginia Main Street program Virginia Tech football fans enthused about new coach, new season Sacred ground: In his search, Barnette teaches others to care for cemeteries, grave markers How to watch Virginia football's Week 2 tilt vs. Norfolk State 3 takeaways from James Franklin’s debut win at Virginia Tech Body of teen recovered from a Virginia reservoir Virginia Tech football rolls to win over Old Dominion 'Damn good' Virginia Tech hands VMI its most lopsided loss ever Brandyn Hillman leads No. 25 Virginia football in blowout win over FCS Norfolk State kAm$FA6CG:D@C #:4< q:==:?8D[ H9@ 92D H@C<65 E@ <66A w2== p55:E:@? C6D:56?ED FA52E65 23@FE E96 AC@;64E[ D2:5 96 36=:6G6D E9:D ?6HD “92D 366? =@?8 2H2:E65”]k^AmkAmq:==:?8D 5:5 6IAC6DD 9@A6D E92E E96 EC277:4 H@?’E ?682E:G6=J :>A24E G69:4=6D 8@:?8 E@ 2?5 7C@> ~2< !@:?E t=6>6?E2CJ $49@@=]k^Am kAm%96 AC@46DD E@ C6249 E9:D A@:?E :?G@=G65 >F=E:A=6 DE286D[ :?4=F5:?8 86EE:?8 @H?6CD9:A @7 E96 3C:586 7C@> E96 C2:=H2J 4@>A2?J }@C7@=< $@FE96C? EC2?D76CC65 E@ 's~%[ 24BF:C:?8 7F?5:?8[ 56D:8?:?8 2 ?6H 3C:586[ H9:49 's~% D2:5 ?66565 E@ 36 C6=@42E65[ C6=@42E:?8 2 4@F?EJ 4@?G6?:6?46 DE2E:@?[ 2?5 24BF:C:?8 C:89E @7 H2J 7C@> AC@A6CEJ @H?6CD]k^Am kAmt2C=:6C E9:D J62C[ EC66 4=62C:?8 E@@< A=246 E@ <:4< @77 E9:D DE286 @7 E96 AC@;64E]k^Am kAmpD E:>6 A2DD65[ E96 4@DE @7 E96 ?6H 3C:586 D<JC@4<6E65]k^Am kAmx? a_`f[ 2 's~% C6D:56?E 6?8:?66C 6DE:>2E65 :E H@F=5 4@DE Sc]d >:==:@? E@ Sd >:==:@?] %96 4FCC6?E AC@;64E 4@DE :D 2AAC@I:>2E6=J Sac]gf >:==:@?[ H:E9 >@DE @7 E96 7F?5:?8 4@>:?8 7C@> E96 DE2E6]k^AmkAmp44@C5:?8 E@ E96 's~%[ E96 AC@;64E :?4=F56D 4@?DECF4E:?8 2 ?6H 3C:586[ 56>@=:D9:?8 E96 6I:DE:?8 @?6[ 2?5 C62=:8?:?8 A@CE:@?D @7 #E] ee_ 2?5 qC@H?D $F35:G:D:@? #@25 E@ 724:=:E2E6 E96 4@?DECF4E:@?] ~E96C 2?E:4:A2E65 H@C< H:== :?4=F56 ?6H A2G6>6?E[ 5C2:?286 A:A6D[ 2 DE@C>H2E6C >2?286>6?E 724:=:EJ[ 8F2C5C2:=[ C6E2:?:?8 H2==D[ D:8?D[ A2G6>6?E >2C<:?8D[ 2?5 C62=:8?>6?E @7 AC:G2E6 AC@A6CEJ 2446DD]k^Am kAm's~% AC@;64ED E92E E96 H@C< H:== 36 4@>A=6E65 :? E96 72== @7 a_af]k^AmkAm's~% 2446AE65 AF3=:4 :?AFE @? E96 AC@;64E :? 62C=J a_ad]k^Am 0 Comments Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SPorter Author email Follow SPorter Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Related to this story Most Popular Proposed zoning regs for data centers head to Smyth supervisors Having heard good and bad about data centers, a citizen asked members of the Board of Supervisors if they would put their name and seat behind… Saltville readies for 55th Labor Day celebration From a parade and fireworks to music and more music, Saltville is offering an array of entertainment to help folks celebrate Labor Day and bid… No mercy: Smyth prosecutor, victim's nephew fight murderer's parole Editor's note: Please be advised that this article contains sensitive material regarding a rape and murder. Chilhowie to consider joining Virginia Main Street program Officials are working to bolster the Main Street area of Chilhowie. Sacred ground: In his search, Barnette teaches others to care for cemeteries, grave markers The guardian angel of this region’s cemeteries: That’s how Anna Leigh DeBord described Charlie Barnette to a group gathered in Marion’s oldest… Watch Now: Related Video Saudi-backed forces claim strikes on Houthis Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia condemns drone attack on East-West Pipeline launched from Iraq. Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia condemns drone attack on East-West Pipeline launched from Iraq. Could AI actually destroy humanity? | The machine we cannot stop | The risks explained Could AI actually destroy humanity? | The machine we cannot stop | The risks explained Trade War Showdown: What Trump’s Latest Threats Mean for Canada and the U.S. Trade War Showdown: What Trump’s Latest Threats Mean for Canada and the U.S.
SPorter Author email Follow SPorter Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today
Proposed zoning regs for data centers head to Smyth supervisors Having heard good and bad about data centers, a citizen asked members of the Board of Supervisors if they would put their name and seat behind…
Saltville readies for 55th Labor Day celebration From a parade and fireworks to music and more music, Saltville is offering an array of entertainment to help folks celebrate Labor Day and bid…
No mercy: Smyth prosecutor, victim's nephew fight murderer's parole Editor's note: Please be advised that this article contains sensitive material regarding a rape and murder.
Chilhowie to consider joining Virginia Main Street program Officials are working to bolster the Main Street area of Chilhowie.
Sacred ground: In his search, Barnette teaches others to care for cemeteries, grave markers The guardian angel of this region’s cemeteries: That’s how Anna Leigh DeBord described Charlie Barnette to a group gathered in Marion’s oldest…
