The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) recently completed a three-lane bridge over the Occoquan River as the final phase in the widening of Route 123 from two to six lanes.

The concrete bridge is three lanes in each direction, with 10-foot shoulders, a median and a sidewalk on the south side of the bridge.

Working closely with the town of Occoquan, VDOT came up with a design using an arched span with ornamental wrought iron railings and columns, compatible with the historic town.

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 less visually obtrusive.

Included in the project was a 640-foot long, 12-foot sound barrier that was built between the travel lanes and the sidewalk on the southbound side, protecting four apartment balconies in the Riverwalk development.

Approaches to the bridge link a six-lane section in Prince William County and the six-lane section in Fairfax County.

Construction was completed by Archer Western Contractors Ltd. of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for a total price $24.6 million.

Over the past several years, eight miles of Route 123, also known as Ox Road, were widened from two lanes to four lanes.

The widening project was divided into sections, and the bridge was part of the last section between Burke Lake Road in Fairfax County and the Occoquan River.

Construction on that section began on Oct. 22, 2003.

The bridge currently handles nearly 40,000 vehicles a day. It's expected to carry 119,000 vehicles daily by 2020.

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Page last modified: Nov. 28, 2007