ROUTE 628 BRIDGE OVER MATTAPONI RIVER CLOSED FOR EMERGENCY REPAIR AT KING AND QUEEN, KING WILLIAM LINE
Dorrell Road/Spring Cottage Road closed to through traffic at the bridge today for motorist safety, with a temporary detour in place.
Anticipated to reopen late 2024 to early 2025.
Update following March 22, 2023 initial information release:
... the bridge on Route 628 (Spring Cottage Road/Dorrell Road) over the Mattaponi River is not anticipated to reopen until late 2024 to early 2025.
First, I want to express that we acknowledge this is a significant detour for every person affected, especially those who are traveling the entire distance end-to-end. We know this is a hardship, and it adds travel time to every trip for the approximately 300 vehicles a day that were crossing the bridge. Our staff, with the help of a consultant brought on to assist us with the design, are working urgently on the required preliminary engineering and environmental review.
In March 2023, crews were preparing to apply a new asphalt travel surface over the bridge deck, which would have protected the bridge deck and provided a smoother surface for drivers. The bridge, built in 1963, had last been inspected in May 2022 and was rated in fair condition. But as the existing pavement was removed in March, crews discovered significant, rapid deterioration in several key bridge elements. For the safety of travelers, the decision was made to close the bridge to traffic until it could undergo a major rehabilitation to improve its condition.
With a length of 198 feet, the bridge is not a good candidate for the installation of a temporary, one-lane bridge. Periodically, for short bridges that span minor creeks or water features, a temporary bridge can be installed to keep a road open while repairs or replacements are designed. But that unfortunately is not recommended for a bridge of this size, at this location.
Design work is underway to replace the bridge's entire superstructure. This will replace the bridge beams, the bridge deck, bridge rails, and the travel surface. The bridge's piles will remain in place. But preparing such a significant project to be advertised for construction, and completing the necessary environmental review, will take most of this year to accomplish. We will advertise the project to potential bidders at the end of 2023, and expect the project's contractor would mobilize on site around March 2024, with around 9 months of construction to follow, putting reopening in late 2024 to early 2025.
We will keep area residents and both King and Queen and King William county officials notified as we make progress to restore and reopen this bridge.
Kind regards,
Kelly Hannon, VDOT Communications
| Kelly Hannon Communications Manager Fredericksburg District Virginia Department of Transportation 540-656-0321 cell 540-374-3344 office Kelly.Hannon@VDOT.Virginia.gov |