VDOT News - Culpeper

CULPEPER — The Virginia Department of Transportation has reduced the maximum weight limit to 3 tons on the Route 641 (Burnley Station Road) bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad in Albemarle County.

The weight reduction, down from the previous 15-ton posting, means that the bridge is closed to all traffic heavier than passenger vehicles, including school buses, many commercial trucks and emergency vehicles.

Ownership of the steel-beam, timber-deck bridge was recently transferred from Norfolk Southern Railroad to VDOT. The 3-ton posting comes as a result of VDOT’s first safety inspection, which identified significant deterioration to the bridge’s beams.

According to a VDOT traffic count, approximately 1,100 vehicles cross the bridge every day. The weight restriction will be in effect until necessary repairs can be made.

VDOT has an aggressive bridge inspection and safety program that goes beyond federal requirements. Inspections of Virginia’s 20,900 bridges and other structures are done in accordance with National Bridge Inspection Standards by qualified inspectors. For more information about Virginia’s bridges, including current conditions, FAQs and video of a bridge inspection, visit www.virginiadot.org/info/Bridge.asp.

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