A public hearing next week will focus on the proposed replacement of a bridge in Orange County.
An aerial rendering depicts the proposed Rt. 675 bridge replacement. VDOT PHOTO
According to VDOT, the existing timber deck Rt. 675 Dolley Madison Road bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad just northeast of James Madison’s Montpelier is in need of replacement. The bridge was constructed in 1948 and is in poor condition. It currently has a posted five-ton weight limit, but is frequently traveled especially during the Hunt Races in November. According to a 2001 traffic count, the bridge typically carries approximately 30 vehicles per day except for that one day in early November when the bridge carries 3,000 vehicles.
Repairs to the bridge would consist of replacing the timber deck and installing new steel beams. The $8.9 million project is funded through the State of Good Repair program, passed and incorporated into the Code of Virginia in 2015. The SGR program provides funding for deficient bridges and pavement owned or maintained by VDOT and/or localities as approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Funds in the program are allocated by the CTB to projects in all nine construction districts based on a priority ranking system.
A design public hearing will be held Thursday, April 24, 5-7 p.m. at the Montpelier Foundation-Lewis Hall, 13384 Laundry Road, Montpelier Station, VA. Those attending the hearing will be able to view the proposed design and make comments. Comments can also be submitted to Kevin Barholt, project manager, at kevin.barnholt@vdot.virginia.gov by May 8.
If approved, the project would be advertised in the fall of 2027 with a completion date of fall 2028.
