Photo courtesy of VDOT
Robert O. Norris Jr. Memorial Bridge
At 67 years old, the Robert O. Norris Jr. Memorial Bridge has been spanning the Rappahannock River for the lifetimes of many Virginians while nearing the end of its own useful life.
Its nearly $400 million replacement is now included in the 50-year Long-Term Plan approved by the state's Commonwealth Transportation Board.
Although building a new bridge at the site just northeast of the mouth of the Rappahannock is not scheduled to begin until 2036, preliminary work on the project is already under way by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), according to a March 14 story by Urbanna, Va.'s Southside Sentinel.
Those preparatory activities were outlined by Annette Adams, VDOT's Fredericksburg District bridge engineer, at a Lancaster County Board of Supervisors meeting in late February.
In her presentation, she said the site assessment plan, which focuses on constructability as well as the type and location of the proposed bridge, is ongoing and would be finished later this spring.
In addition, the geotechnical review, which looks at the ground and riverbed where the bridge piers will be constructed, along with the National Environmental Policy Act review, also are in progress.
Adams added that the geotechnical review is slated for completion this fall.
A public hearing also will be conducted to present the environmental results either at the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.
Without New Bridge, Nearest Crossing Is 30 Miles Away
At 1.9 mi. in length, the current two-lane Norris Bridge carries Virginia Highway 3 traffic over a wide channel of the Rappahannock River between Lancaster and Middlesex counties. Additionally, its vertical clearance in the channel for marine traffic is 110 ft.
First opened in 1957, the span today sees an average of 7,560 vehicles cross the river each day, according to VDOT.
Beyond getting a more modern bridge over the wide river, a replacement will maintain a direct connection for area residents between the eastern ends of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula west of Chesapeake Bay. Without a new structure, the Downing Bridge is the nearest available crossing, roughly 30 mi. to the northwest in the Tappahannock area.
While the exact design of the proposed replacement bridge has yet to be determined, the Sentinel noted, it would incorporate updated minimum standards, including increasing the width of the two travel lanes from 11 ft. to 12 ft., adding 4-ft.-wide shoulders, and increasing the height of the railings from 32 in. to 42 in.
The new construction also would accommodate the weights of every type of vehicle; the Norris Bridge has a 45-ton weight limit.
Repairs, Inspections Should Extend Bridge's Life
Survey work and site assessment has been completed ahead of the bridge replacement and Adams said that maintenance on the Norris Bridge is ongoing.
Since 1993, the structure's condition has been rated as being "fair" with a score of five on a zero to nine national bridge inspection scale, she added.
"The bridge is inspected on an annual cycle for critical elements, which is why you see us out there every year," Adams told county supervisors. "We're inspecting the entire bridge every two years — the critical elements plus the rest of the structure."
In addition to recently completed routine repairs, the VDOT engineer said spot structural steel repairs would be made toward the end of the year and into the next. Pile jacket repairs also would be done as needed.
During the February presentation by VDOT, Lancaster County District 3 Supervisor Jason Bellows said the bridge "is our front door and we spent a lot of effort and money to protect this against potential destruction by large towers next to it, so maintaining critical elements for boating in the new design is really important to us."
His colleague, county Administrator Don Gill, reminded Adams that Lancaster supervisors had expressed interest in retaining part of the old bridge for use as a public fishing pier as well as maintaining the 110-ft. vertical clearance in the replacement bridge.
Funding to replace the Norris Bridge was confirmed by the Commonwealth Transportation Board in 2021 when it voted to approve the Special Structures 50-Year Long-Term Plan.
Virginia's Six-Year Improvement Program for Fiscal Year 2023-2028, through the Special Structures allocations, included $9.9 million for preliminary engineering work necessary for the bridge replacement. As a supplement, an additional $5 million for preliminary engineering activities also was included in the state budget.
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