Virginia Awards $17.8M Contract For Chatham Bridge Renovations

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — A Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company won a $17.8 million contract Tuesday to renovate the Chatham Bridge that connects Stafford County with the City of Fredericksburg. Joseph B. Fay Co., which was awarded the contract by the state of Virginia, will conduct the renovation work on the Route 3 bridge over the Rappahannock River.

When the work is completed, the bridge will have a separate shared-use path for pedestrians and bicyclists. The path will connect with existing sidewalks in downtown Fredericksburg and Stafford County’s Belmont-Ferry Farm Trail. A scenic overlook will let pedestrians stop at the bridge's midpoint. New light posts will be installed, and new bridge railings will keep the distinctive open view of the Rappahannock River.

The Virginia Commonwealth Transportation Board awarded the contract.

Chatham Bridge is scheduled to 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.

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

Final construction activities will continue after the bridge has reopened to traffic. The impact to traffic after the bridge reopens in the fall of 2021 will be limited. Only periodic single-lane closures, scheduled at off-peak times, are anticipated to be needed.

Under the contract, Joseph B. Fay Co. has until April 2022 to complete all work.

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