Big Island, VA. GP Facility.

If you've been to the Big Island, VA Georgia Pacific plant you will know what the hazards are. If you haven't and might be routed there, you need to know what to look for.

As far as I know, all truck traffic comes in on the Lee Jackson Highway, 501. If you come from the north, there is a tricky bridge a few miles before the plant. You will round a curve to see a bridge that is high to your right and gets lower to your left. Trucks coming towards you are going to get in your lane to be on the higher clearance side of the bridge. Proceed SLOWLY and with caution to avoid a potential head on collision. Use the same caution if you leave the plant and head north.

Next hazard. If you leave the plant and turn LEFT from there (I hope I have my north/south right), you will be on 501 and the James river will be on your left. There are two lanes. Stay in the left lane REGARDLESS of traffic behind you. You will encounter rock wall faces to your right that will scrape your trailer if you are even a few inches too far to your right. How do I know? The trailer paint on the rocks does not lie. I've never seen vertical rock walls so close to traffic. The problem is that they are closer to your trailer at the 10 foot level than they are at road level.

It's a beautiful area, but full of hazards.

I believe they have a new bridge since I was there over a year ago. My Omnitracks/Swift GPS always sent me across the bridge (5 miles upriver) using VA-130.That is a nice, narrow & curvy but no "cliffs" drive from Lynchburg. I dreamed of taking my fishing rod along, since the truck parking is right on the banks of the James.

Been there many a time. I think it’s funny to go to a big island so far inland. Kind of like Beech Island, SC near Augusta, GA.