| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Joan Morris (703) 383-2465 joan.morris@VDOT.Virginia.gov |
NOVA-NR07-29 Aug. 30, 2007 |
VDOT Closing Bridge in Prince William County Today
Norfolk Southern Bridge on Aden Road Rapidly Deteriorating
VDOT Closing Bridge in Prince William County Today
Norfolk Southern Bridge on Aden Road Rapidly Deteriorating
The Virginia Department of Transportation is closing a 125 year-old wrought-iron truss bridge today on Aden Road in the Nokesville area of Prince William County due to advanced deterioration of the timber plank deck. Norfolk Southern owns the bridge and is responsible for maintenance and repairs.
“Annual inspections and subsequent inspections clearly indicate that this bridge is in a state of rapid deterioration,” said VDOT Northern Virginia bridge engineer Nick Roper. “We conducted a quality assurance inspection in mid-July and have reviewed the bridge several times since. All of the bridge’s components - the superstructure, substructure and deck – have extensive deficiencies. The action we’ve taken today proves that VDOT’s bridge inspection program in Virginia is working to ensure public safety.”
The bridge will remain closed until the railroad repairs it. The bridge was built in 1882 and is on the National Historic Register. A major rehabilitation of the bridge would cost about $830,000.
Aden Road carries about 1,750 vehicles per day. Traffic will be detoured to Fitzwater Drive and Route 28.
“Fortunately, there is a readily available and convenient alternate route around the bridge,” said Roper. Signs alerting motorists to the closure and detour are being put in place today. The traffic detour will add between a quarter-mile to three-quarters of a mile to a driver’s trip, depending on the direction of travel.
VDOT maintains more than 20,000 bridges and large culverts and making sure the commonwealth’s bridges are safe is a top priority.
The commonwealth has an aggressive bridge inspection and safety program. In Fiscal Year 2007, VDOT spent approximately $13.5 million on bridge inspections. In Fiscal Year 2008, $16 million has been set aside to inspect bridges.
VDOT has approximately 100 bridge inspectors on staff to conduct between 11,000 and 12,000 inspections each year.
Virginia bridges are inspected in accordance with National Bridge Inspection Standards by qualified inspectors. Inspections are performed at least every two years. Some bridges are inspected every year or less, depending on factors such as design details and condition of the bridge.
VDOT bridge lists, bridge inspection definitions and details on the re-inspection of steel truss bridges is available at http://www.virginiadot.org/info/bridge.asp
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“Annual inspections and subsequent inspections clearly indicate that this bridge is in a state of rapid deterioration,” said VDOT Northern Virginia bridge engineer Nick Roper. “We conducted a quality assurance inspection in mid-July and have reviewed the bridge several times since. All of the bridge’s components - the superstructure, substructure and deck – have extensive deficiencies. The action we’ve taken today proves that VDOT’s bridge inspection program in Virginia is working to ensure public safety.”
The bridge will remain closed until the railroad repairs it. The bridge was built in 1882 and is on the National Historic Register. A major rehabilitation of the bridge would cost about $830,000.
Aden Road carries about 1,750 vehicles per day. Traffic will be detoured to Fitzwater Drive and Route 28.
“Fortunately, there is a readily available and convenient alternate route around the bridge,” said Roper. Signs alerting motorists to the closure and detour are being put in place today. The traffic detour will add between a quarter-mile to three-quarters of a mile to a driver’s trip, depending on the direction of travel.
VDOT maintains more than 20,000 bridges and large culverts and making sure the commonwealth’s bridges are safe is a top priority.
The commonwealth has an aggressive bridge inspection and safety program. In Fiscal Year 2007, VDOT spent approximately $13.5 million on bridge inspections. In Fiscal Year 2008, $16 million has been set aside to inspect bridges.
VDOT has approximately 100 bridge inspectors on staff to conduct between 11,000 and 12,000 inspections each year.
Virginia bridges are inspected in accordance with National Bridge Inspection Standards by qualified inspectors. Inspections are performed at least every two years. Some bridges are inspected every year or less, depending on factors such as design details and condition of the bridge.
VDOT bridge lists, bridge inspection definitions and details on the re-inspection of steel truss bridges is available at http://www.virginiadot.org/info/bridge.asp
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Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.
Page last modified: Jan. 17, 2008
