Street Remains One-Way Due To Chatham Bridge Utility Work

FREDERICKSBURG, VA – Traffic on a downtown Fredericksburg street will remain restricted to one-way westbound traffic for an additional month as utility relocation work continues in preparation for the Chatham Bridge renovation project, the Virginia Department of Transportation said Thursday. As part of the work, utility lines connected to the Chatham Bridge are being moved before bridge construction begins later this year.

Utility relocation work near George and Sophia streets began in mid-November 2019 and was estimated to be finished by mid-January. But work crews required several additional weeks to bore through rock and earth to create a new channel to carry utility lines underneath the Rappahannock River, extending the need to retain one-way westbound traffic on George Street between Sophia and Caroline streets for the staging of crews and equipment, according to VDOT.

Street parking will remain prohibited in the 100 block of George Street, between Sophia and Caroline streets. Sidewalks on both sides of George Street will remain open.

The Chatham Bridge, which spans the Rappahannock River, will close for upgrades as soon as late May. A detour will be in place for between 16 and 18 months while construction is underway. The $23.4 million renovation project was advertised this month to potential bidders, VDOT said.

When the project is complete, Chatham Bridge will reopen with four travel lanes and a nearly 10-foot wide shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists, separated from traffic by a barrier. The path will connect with Stafford County's future Belmont-Ferry Farm trail along the Rappahannock River. A scenic overlook will be built halfway across the bridge along the path.

The bridge’s distinctive church-style railing will be replaced with a similar style of railing. The lighting fixtures will also be replaced and will coordinate with existing lightposts in downtown Fredericksburg.

The Chatham Bridge, built in 1941, carries about 16,000 vehicles a day on Route 3 Business traveling between Stafford and Fredericksburg.