by Audrey Thomasson
WHITE STONE—The Virginia Department of Transportation is taking steps to prepare for eventual replacement of the Robert O. Norris Jr. Memorial Bridge.
Letters have been mailed to affected property owners in Lancaster and Middlesex counties to notify them that survey work related to a replacement bridge upstream of the current bridge will begin mid-February with completion expected in mid-May.
VDOT also has asked the U.S. Coast Guard to consider lowering the vertical clearance of a future bridge to 75 feet above the mean high water for marine traffic.
“The vertical clearance on the current bridge is 110 feet,” according to Kelly Hannon, VDOT communications manager. “As part of the review, the Coast Guard will post a local notice to mariners seeking public comment on this potential change.”
Once posted, the notice will be available at www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=
“Compiling the information now will let us move quickly if funding becomes available to replace the bridge,” said Hannon. “While no funds are available at this time to launch design work on a replacement bridge, we want to have all of the relevant information at hand if circumstances change.”
Residents seeking additional information should contact Hannon at 540-374-3344 or email [email protected]
