VDOT News - Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – Utility work will begin soon at the intersection of George Street and Sophia Street in the City of Fredericksburg in preparation for the Chatham Bridge rehabilitation project. 

Starting Monday, Nov. 18, George Street will be restricted to one-way westbound traffic between Sophia Street and Caroline Street.  Street parking will also be prohibited in the 100 block of George Street, which is between Sophia Street and Caroline Street. 

Sidewalks on both sides of George Street are planned to remain open. 

The utility work may take up to 60 days to complete. 

The Chatham Bridge over the Rappahannock River will be closed to all traffic for an improvement project by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). A detour will be in place for an anticipated 16 months while construction is underway. The $23.4 million rehabilitation project will be advertised to potential bidders in January 2020. The bridge may be closed to traffic as soon as May 2020. 

Utility lines connected to the bridge are being moved in advance of the start of construction. 

Once the project is complete, Chatham Bridge will have four travel lanes and a nearly 10-foot wide shared-use path separated from traffic by barrier. The distinctive church-style railing will be replaced with a similar style of rail. The lighting fixtures will also be replaced and will coordinate with existing lightposts in downtown Fredericksburg. The bridge’s shared use path will connect with Stafford County’s future Belmont-Ferry Farm trail along the Rappahannock River. Path users will be able stop at a scenic overlook halfway across the bridge. 

Click here to watch an online simulation video the new bridge and path. 

The 1941 bridge on Route 3 business connects Stafford County and the City of Fredericksburg. It carries approximately 16,000 vehicles a day, according to a recent VDOT traffic count. 

For more information on the Chatham Bridge rehabilitation project, and updates as construction and the detour approaches, please visit the project page on www.VirginiaDOT.org.

511Virginia

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VDOT’s 14-county Fredericksburg District includes the counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford in the Fredericksburg area; Northumberland, Richmond, Lancaster and Westmoreland counties in the Northern Neck; Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex counties in the Middle Peninsula.

Information in VDOT news releases was accurate at the time the release was published. For the most current information about projects or programs, please visit the project or program Web pages. You may find those by searching by keyword in the search Virginia DOT box above.