Bridge work may begin in ’28, eight years earlier than previously planned
Gov. Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday, April 15, announced construction to replace the Robert O. Norris Jr. Memorial Bridge over the Rappahannock River between the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck will begin in 2028, eight years ahead of schedule.
Using monies made available through the Commonwealth Transportation Special Structures Program Revenue Bond Act of 2025, construction to build a modern bridge, with substantially wider travel lanes, fully functional shoulders and significantly higher guardrails, will start eight years ahead of the planned 2036 groundbreaking.
“It is time to build a modern bridge that will serve the communities of the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula for the next 100 years,” said Gov. Youngkin.
“Today we are accelerating construction of a new Norris Bridge to meet the daily travel needs of residents and businesses, and to welcome visitors to these scenic waterfront regions. Through this action, people will be driving over the new bridge almost a decade sooner than expected.”
The Norris Bridge carries Route 3 traffic over the Rappahannock River between Middlesex and Lancaster counties. The 1.9-mile bridge carries an average of 7,560 vehicles a day and opened to traffic in 1957. It has two travel lanes, with no real shoulders. The next closest available land crossing of the Rappahannock River is on Route 360 at Tappahannock, about 40 miles to the west. If the Norris Bridge were to close for any reason, the full detour route is 85 miles.
Due to the length of the Norris Bridge, it is one of 18 mega bridge and tunnel facilities in Virginia considered a Special Structure due to its size or complexity. The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) maintains a Special Structure 50-Year Long-Term Plan, updated annually, to fund needed maintenance and eventual replacement of these structures.
Through the passage of Senate Bill 1082, carried by Sen. Ryan McDougle and championed by many including Sen. Richard Stuart, Del. Keith Hodges and Del. Hillary Pugh Kent, the CTB may issue revenue bonds for up to $200 million a year, and up to $1 billion total, to support the Special Structures Program. These bonds will be payable from revenues provided to the Special Structure Fund.
“While today we are celebrating an eight-year acceleration of a new Norris Bridge, this legislation will expedite our progress on improvements to other large bridges and tunnels across Virginia, which collectively carry hundreds of thousands of people every day,” said Sen. McDougle. “This investment demonstrates our commitment to traveler safety, and to the free flow of commerce across Virginia. Even if you live miles from one of these tunnels or bridges, the benefits will be experienced by us all.”
“Our group has been advocating for the replacement of the Norris Bridge for the past nine years,”
– Steve Bonner
founder of the Replace the Robert O. Norris Bridge Group
“We’re incredibly grateful to the governor for helping to bring this project eight years closer to completion, as well as Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard Miller III and Sen. McDougle for being the patrons of this legislation.
“The need for a safer, more modern bridge, has long been a challenge for both visitors and local residents — many of whom have avoided crossing it altogether,” said Bonner. “We welcome everyone who supports this cause to find and enjoy our Facebook group to stay informed and involved.”
“Building safe, reliable infrastructure is foundational to the commonwealth’s ability to attract and retain business, encourage tourism, and care for its residents,” said Miller. “This administration is making an investment in the future success of our state by addressing the Norris Bridge and other necessary bridge and tunnel projects with urgency.”
Preliminary engineering and advanced right-of-way acquisition is already under way for the Norris Bridge replacement. The new bridge will have two travel lanes and shoulders that meet current road design standards, and it will have higher rails than the current bridge. A design public hearing will be scheduled to share proposed design plans and gather public comment before construction begins.
The Norris Bridge will remain open to traffic during construction of the new bridge. Once the replacement bridge has opened to traffic, the existing bridge will be demolished.
“Until the day the new bridge opens, our mission at the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will include ongoing maintenance and inspection of the existing Norris Bridge,” said VDOT Commissioner of Highways Stephen C. Brich. “Our team of engineers, road designers, inspectors and maintenance staff will sustain the bridge as we deliver a new bridge on time and on budget for the commonwealth.”
The Norris Bridge replacement project is anticipated to be advertised to potential bidders as a design-build project.
