| RELEASE: CONTACT: |
IMMEDIATE Joan Morris 703-383-2465 joan.morris@virginiadot.org Ryan Hall 703-383-2055 |
NOVA-NV03-66 Oct. 22, 2003 |
The Virginia Department of Transportation and local officials broke ground today for the new Route 123 bridge over the Occoquan River in Prince William County. The bridge replacement is the final phase of widening Route 123 from for eight miles between Burke Lake Road in Fairfax County and the Occoquan River.
When completed in 2006, the $24.6 million concrete span will have three lanes in each direction, 10-foot shoulders, a median and a sidewalk on the south side of the bridge. A 640-foot long, 12-foot sound barrier will be built between the travel lanes and the sidewalk on the southbound side to protect four apartment balconies in the Riverwalk development. Approaches to the bridge will be reconstructed to tie into the six-lane section in Prince William County and the six-lane section currently under construction in Fairfax County.
VDOT worked closely with the Town of Occoquan to design a bridge that would be compatible with the historic waterfront community. The town selected the sound wall’s color, the decorative railings and columns, the arched girders, and the brick imprint on the pier bases. At the town’s request, VDOT increased the bridge clearance to 44 feet to allow for taller sailboats, and moved the sound wall to the inside of the sidewalk so that it would be visually less obtrusive. VDOT’s design will allow the public to continue to park in 40 parking spaces under the bridge during construction.
The bridge currently carries about 32,000 vehicles a day and by 2020 is expected to carry 119,000 vehicles daily. Archer Western Contractors, LTD of Ft. Lauderdale is the contractor for the bridge replacement.
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Route 123 Widening Schedule
Phase 1 Burke Lake Road to Lee Chapel Road (2.4 miles)
Began Jan. 2002, completed July 2003.
Phase 2 Lee Chapel Road to North Davis Drive (2.5 miles)
Began August 2002; completion summer 2004
Phase 3 North Davis Drive to Route 722 (1.9 miles)
Began May 2003; completion October 2004
Phase 4 Bridge over the Occoquan River (0.6 miles)
Begins October 2003; completion 2006.
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When completed in 2006, the $24.6 million concrete span will have three lanes in each direction, 10-foot shoulders, a median and a sidewalk on the south side of the bridge. A 640-foot long, 12-foot sound barrier will be built between the travel lanes and the sidewalk on the southbound side to protect four apartment balconies in the Riverwalk development. Approaches to the bridge will be reconstructed to tie into the six-lane section in Prince William County and the six-lane section currently under construction in Fairfax County.
VDOT worked closely with the Town of Occoquan to design a bridge that would be compatible with the historic waterfront community. The town selected the sound wall’s color, the decorative railings and columns, the arched girders, and the brick imprint on the pier bases. At the town’s request, VDOT increased the bridge clearance to 44 feet to allow for taller sailboats, and moved the sound wall to the inside of the sidewalk so that it would be visually less obtrusive. VDOT’s design will allow the public to continue to park in 40 parking spaces under the bridge during construction.
The bridge currently carries about 32,000 vehicles a day and by 2020 is expected to carry 119,000 vehicles daily. Archer Western Contractors, LTD of Ft. Lauderdale is the contractor for the bridge replacement.
Route 123 Widening Schedule
Phase 1 Burke Lake Road to Lee Chapel Road (2.4 miles)
Began Jan. 2002, completed July 2003.
Phase 2 Lee Chapel Road to North Davis Drive (2.5 miles)
Began August 2002; completion summer 2004
Phase 3 North Davis Drive to Route 722 (1.9 miles)
Began May 2003; completion October 2004
Phase 4 Bridge over the Occoquan River (0.6 miles)
Begins October 2003; completion 2006.
Page last modified: Oct. 22, 2003
