Contractor selected for Chatham Bridge work

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Joseph B. Fay Co., of Pittsburgh, Pa., has been awarded a $17.8 million contract to rehabilitate the Chatham Bridge over the Rappahannock River between Fredericksburg and Stafford County. VDOT announced the award Tuesday.

Chatham Bridge will close to traffic in late May. Traffic will be detoured for an estimated 16 to 18 months, with a bridge reopening planned for fall 2021.

When the improved bridge opens, it will provide pedestrians and bicyclists with a separate shared-use path, which will connect with existing sidewalks in downtown Fredericksburg and Stafford’s Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail. A scenic overlook will provide a refuge for pedestrians to stop at the bridge midpoint. New light posts will be installed, and new bridge railings will keep the distinctive open view of the Rappahannock River.

The project will replace the bridge deck and travel surface, and will make repairs to the bridge approaches and supporting elements in the substructure, which will allow the removal of the current 15-ton vehicle weight limit posting on the bridge.

Final construction activities will continue after the bridge has reopened to traffic, and the contractor has until April 2022 to complete all work. The impact to traffic after the bridge reopens will be limited. Only periodic single-lane closures, scheduled at off-peak times, are anticipated to be needed.