by Jackie Nunnery
WHITE STONE—Drivers on the Robert O. Norris Jr. Memorial Bridge will need to practice patience after Sen. Ryan McDougle’s $400 million budget amendment to speed up its replacement failed to make the current Senate budget proposal.
However, the project remains on the 50-Year Long-Term Plan approved by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, with construction set to begin in 2036. Meanwhile, preliminary work will continue on the replacement project as well as ongoing maintenance on the 66-year-old structure.
According to Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) Fredericksburg District communications manager Kelly Hannon, the $34.7 million appropriated in the 2023-28 Six-Year Improvement Plan (SYIP) is funding preliminary engineering activities for the bridge replacement