Under Construction

Project Updates

THE LORD DELAWARE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT EARNS NATIONAL INDUSTRY AWARD

In November, VDOT was selected by The National Partnership for Highway Quality (NPHQ - a partnership of federal, state, and roadway industry leaders and officials that promotes highway quality, safety, and service to the highway user) as the 2007 State Winner in its National Achievement Award program for the Lord Delaware Bridge Replacement Project in West Point.

The Lord Delaware Bridge, the first phase of the West Point Bridge Replacement Project, was completed in November 2006.

NPHQ Executive Director Bob Templeton noted that VDOT had to address a number of environmental challenges with the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including time-of-year restrictions for working in water, tidal influences and a soft subsurface as it worked to relieve major traffic bottlenecks for rail, river barge and vehicular traffic traveling between I-64 and Route 17.

All of these elements contributed to the successful completion of this project on time, on budget and without claims:
• Formal partnering commitments
• A focus on context-sensitive solutions (CSS)
• Frequent communication with community members
• Use of innovative designs such as the Bulb-T, a pre-stressed concrete girder that allows for longer bridge span lengths and reduces the number of piers needed in deep water.

Project partners include:
• VDOT
• Wilbur Smith Associates
• McLean Contracting, Inc.
• Bryant Contracting, Inc.
• Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas

Project Updates

Both bridges are now open! The Eltham Bridge is open to traffic with lane closures.

• Click here to read the announcement for the dedication of the Eltham Bridge, May 24, 2007.
  
• View latest project update presentation (pdf file) (updated March 26, 2007)
  
• See aerial photos of bridge construction, 4/12/06 (pdf file)
  
• See copy of news release, event invitation, and map for opening ceremonies for the Lord Delaware Bridge, Saturday, July 29, 2006. (pdf file)

Impact on Traffic

Travel on Route 33 often experiences delays due to frequent bridge openings of the Eltham Bridge, and rail car switching operations at the railroad switching yard in West Point.

Link to Dashboard

Click link to Dashboard for Eltham Bridge
Click link to Dashboard for Lord Delaware Bridge

Why is this road being built?

The project is for the replacement of the two bridges--Eltham Bridge crossing the Pamunkey and Lord Delaware Bridge crossing the Mattaponi River--in the Town of West Point. The bridges are being replaced because the maintenance costs for the existing spans are increasing, and the bridges are approaching the end of their design life. Additionally, VDOT is investigating traffic flow improvements to Route 33. The highway serves as an important transportation link on the Middle Peninsula by providing local access to businesses and residents, and by providing through traffic connections to Interstate 64.

Contacts

Gale Dickerson, 804-761-2970