vehicles crossing only the main bridge (for instance between Smithfield and Newport News) only had to pay southbound. J.W. Luter, Jr. of the local Smithfield Packing Company rerouted his trucks via a smaller, cheaper bridge owned by a Norfolk car dealer. Tolls were eventually dropped to 10 cents per axle, and later removed on June 3, 1976; the state paid off the remaining bonds at that time. Simultaneously, the parallel Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel opened, and tolls were removed from that facility, the Coleman Bridge, and the Robert O. Norris Bridge. Many considered this an important step in the development of the area. The former toll building and parking area was used for maintenance workers, police, and tow truck drivers until 2002, when asbestos was discovered. Preservationists have argued the building had historic significance. Replacement bridge without tolls: 1975-1982 A new four-lane lift bridge was completed in stages from 1975 to 1982. During construction, the two southbound lanes of the new bridge were completed first and carried northbound traffic while the old bridge carried two lanes of southbound traffic until the northbound lanes of the new bridge were completed. When the northbound lanes of the new bridge opened the old bridge was demolished, but a 0.75-mile (1.2 km) section on the Newport News side was retained for use as a fishing pier. Now known as the James River Pier, it is the longest fishing pier on the East Coast. Due to severe corrosion of the metal beams that supported the deck of the 86-year-old bridge structure, the James River Pier was demolished and rebuilt of concrete in 2015. See also List of crossings of the James River References External links Roads to the Future: James River Bridge (US-17) Vertical lift bridges in Virginia Bridges completed in 1928 Bridges completed in 1982 Former toll bridges in Virginia Bridges over the James River (Virginia) Buildings and structures in Isle of Wight County, Virginia Buildings and structures in Newport News, Virginia Transportation in Newport News, Virginia Demolished bridges in the United States Transportation in Isle of Wight County, Virginia Road bridges in Virginia U.S. Route 17 Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System 1928 establishments in Virginia Steel bridges in the United States