RELEASE: IMMEDIATE March 19, 2013
CONTACT: Kelly Hannon 540-374-3344 (office)
540-656-0321 (cell)
Kelly.Hannon@VDOT.Virginia.Gov

Tina Bundy 540-899-4560 (office)
540-907-8325 (cell)
Tina.Bundy@VDOT.Virginia.Gov

LANE CLOSURES TOMORROW ON CHATHAM BRIDGE
Two lanes will be closed during daytime hours Wednesday for bridge repairs on structure between Stafford, Fredericksburg

FREDERICKSBURG – Two lanes will be closed on the Chatham Bridge on Wednesday, March 20 between Stafford County and Fredericksburg so repair work can continue to fill a hole in an eastbound travel lane.

Both eastbound lanes will be closed on the bridge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Eastbound and westbound traffic will narrow to a single lane, and will cross the bridge in the westbound travel lanes. Traffic control will be provided by a flagging crew.

Today, a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) bridge maintenance crew installed formwork below the hole, supported by braces. Tomorrow, the crew will pour concrete into the hole to form the bridge deck, and it will be covered with asphalt.

The hole was caused by a failed bridge joint under the pavement.

The hole, which measured 2 feet by 3 feet across, was discovered on Saturday. The right eastbound lane was closed, and the hole was covered with temporary steel plates. On Sunday, the hole was covered with larger steel plates that spanned the width of the travel lane, and the lane was re-opened to traffic while permanent repairs were scheduled.