Construction to replace the Route 123 bridge over the Occoquan River in Prince William County begins next month and will be complete in the spring of 2006, the Virginia Department of Transportation announced today. The bridge replacement is the final phase of widening Route 123 from two to six lanes between Burke Lake Road in Fairfax County and the Occoquan River.

The two-lane bridge will be replaced by a concrete span with 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.

Working closely with the Town of Occoquan, VDOT designed an arched span with ornamental wrought iron railings and columns to be compatible with the community and enhance river views. 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. The town selected the sound wall’s color, the decorative railings and columns, the arched girders, and the brick imprint on the pier bases. 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.

The Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded the $24.6 million contract to Archer Western Contractors, LTD of Ft. Lauderdale.

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Page last modified: Sept. 18, 2003