Robert O. Norris Bridge

Last updated
Robert O. Norris Bridge
Rappahannock River, Virginia - Robert O Norris bridge at Whitestone - panoramio (1).jpg
Viewed from the southeast in 2013
Coordinates 37°37′28″N76°25′23″W / 37.62431°N 76.42317°W / 37.62431; -76.42317
Carries2 lanes of Virginia 3.svg SR 3
Crosses Rappahannock River
Maintained by Virginia Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignTruss
MaterialSteel
Total length11,237 feet (3,425 m)
Longest span648 feet (198 m)
No. of lanes 2
History
Construction start1954
OpenedAugust 30, 1957 (1957-08-30)
Statistics
Daily traffic 6,100 vehicles (2020)
Location
Robert O. Norris Bridge

The Robert O. Norris Bridge is a truss bridge that spans the Rappahannock River in Virginia, United States and serves as the crossing for State Route 3 over the river between Grey's Point on the Middlesex County side and the town of White Stone in Lancaster County. The span was opened on August 30, 1957, and replaced a ferry service directly West of where the current bridge is located. Commonly known by locals as the White Stone Bridge or Rappahannock River Bridge, this span is a critical crossing between the Lower Middle Peninsula and the Northern Neck as the next closest crossing is over 30 miles (48 km) upstream near Tappahannock. Traffic forced to utilize a detour over the upstream crossing could potentially travel over 90 miles (140 km). The Norris Bridge is 11,237 feet (3,425 m) long, [1] and provides a Mean High Water clearance of 110 feet (34 m) under the center span with a channel depth of over 60 feet (18 m). The bridge is maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation. When first opened, the bridge was crossed by just over 1,000 vehicles per day, on average. Tolls were removed from the bridge in 1976, and by 1978 the average daily traffic had risen to over 2,500 vehicles per day. By 2006, traffic counts reached 11,309 vehicles per day [2] but shrank to 6,900 Annual Average Daily Traffic in 2017. [3]

Contents

History

Originally initiated on November 16, 1938 by the creation of the Lower Rappahannock Bridge Commission, [4] planning work on the bridge began in earnest in 1950, and construction began in 1954. Four workers were killed in construction accidents on the bridge.

Present Day

Crossing the Robert O. Norris Bridge (2016) Crossing the Robert O. Norris Bridge (2016).jpg
Crossing the Robert O. Norris Bridge (2016)

Between the opening of the bridge and the placement of the current traffic safety barrier, there have been two known fatal accidents involving cars crashing off the bridge into the water below.

Prior to July 2021, Dominion Virginia Power operated a 115 kilovolt (kV) transmission line that was attached to the East side of the bridge. This bridge-mounted 115 kV transmission line was removed after a replacement underwater 115 kV transmission line was brought online. [5] [6] This transmission line replacement was identified by Dominion Power as a needed project in order to remove risk of violating mandated NERC standards. Increased inspection routines relating to the age of the bridge itself required the attached transmission line be de-energized each time the inspections were carried out. The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) later ordered Dominion Power to route the new transmission line underwater. [7] [8] [9]

Future

The Robert O. Norris Bridge has been identified as a State of Good Repair Infrastructure asset in that the pavement and superstructure of the bridge are deemed structurally deficient and replacement should be performed at or before the end of its 75 year design lifespan in 2032. In addition, the Norris Bridge has been identified as being 'Fracture-critical' and the failure of one span could cause the total collapse of the structure much like the collapse of Minneapolis, Minnesota's I-35W Bridge in August 2007. [10]

Related Research Articles

Bridge Structure built to span physical obstacles

A bridge is a structure built to span a physical obstacle without blocking the way underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, which is usually something that is otherwise difficult or impossible to cross. There are many different designs of bridges, each serving a particular purpose and applicable to different situations. Designs of bridges vary depending on factors such as the function of the bridge, the nature of the terrain where the bridge is constructed and anchored, and the material used to make it, and the funds available to build it.

Captain Cook Bridge, Brisbane Bridge in Queensland, Australia

The Captain Cook Bridge is a road bridge that carries the Pacific Motorway across the Brisbane River in Brisbane, in the state of Queensland, Australia. It was built exclusively for vehicular traffic and was completed in late 1972. The bridge had its naming ceremony on 13 December 1972, with it opening in January/February 1973. A once only pedestrian walk event across the bridge happened shortly before it was opened to vehicular traffic on 21 January 1973, organised by the Rotary Club of Stones Corner. The bridge crosses at the South Brisbane Reach of the river, linking Gardens Point in the Brisbane central business district on the north side to Kangaroo Point and South Brisbane on the southside.

14th Street bridges 3 bridges across the Potomac River connecting Arlington, VA and Washington, D.C., USA

The 14th Street bridges refers to the three bridges near each other that cross the Potomac River, connecting Arlington, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Sometimes the two nearby rail bridges are included as part of the 14th Street bridge complex. A major gateway for automotive, bicycle and rail traffic, the bridge complex is named for 14th Street, which feeds automotive traffic into it on the D.C. end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel</span> Bridge-tunnel connecting Virginia cities Norfolk and Hampton

The Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel (HRBT) is a 3.5-mile (5.6 km)-long Hampton Roads crossing for Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60. It is a four-lane facility comprising bridges, trestles, man-made islands, and tunnels under the main shipping channels for Hampton Roads harbor in the southeastern portion of Virginia in the United States.

George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge Bridge across York River in Virginia

The George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge is a double swing bridge that spans the York River between Yorktown and Gloucester Point, in the United States state of Virginia. It connects the Peninsula and Middle Peninsula regions of Tidewater, Virginia. The bridge is the only public crossing of the York River, though State Route 33 crosses both of its tributaries at just above its source at West Point.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James River Bridge</span> Bridge in VA to Newport News, VA

The James River Bridge (JRB) is a four-lane divided highway lift bridge across the James River in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Owned and operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation, it carries U.S. Route 17 (US 17), US 258, and State Route 32 across the river near its mouth at Hampton Roads. The bridge connects Newport News on the Virginia Peninsula with Isle of Wight County in the South Hampton Roads region, and is the easternmost such crossing without a tunnel component.

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is the agency of the state government responsible for transportation in the state of Virginia in the United States. VDOT is headquartered at the Virginia Department of Highways Building in downtown Richmond. VDOT is responsible for building, maintaining, and operating the roads, bridges, and tunnels in the commonwealth. It is overseen by the Commonwealth Transportation Board, which has the power to fund airports, seaports, rail, and public transportation.

Jamestown Ferry

The Jamestown Ferry is a free automobile and bus ferry service across a navigable portion of the James River in Virginia. It carries State Route 31, connecting Jamestown in James City County with Scotland Wharf in Surry County.

Berkley Bridge (Virginia) Bridge across Elizabeth River in Norfolk Virginia

The Interstate 264 Berkley Bridge is a double-leaf bascule bridge that crosses the Eastern Branch of the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. It carries Interstate 264 (I-264), U.S. Route 460 Alternate, and State Route 337 (SR 337) across the river, connecting the Berkley neighborhood south of the river with downtown Norfolk to the north. The toll-free facility is one of only a small number of movable bridges on the Interstate Highway System, and is the first of two in the Hampton Roads region, predating the High Rise Bridge. It is named for the former Town of Berkley that is now a part of the City of Norfolk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Downtown Tunnel</span> Tunnel across Southern Branch Elizabeth River in Virginia

The Downtown Tunnel on Interstate 264 (I-264) and U.S. Route 460 Alternate crosses the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in the South Hampton Roads area of Virginia, US. It links the independent City of Portsmouth with the independent City of Norfolk. In conjunction with the Berkley Bridge, the Downtown Tunnel connects to Interstate 464 to the City of Chesapeake and a continuation I-264 to the downtown and Waterside areas of Norfolk, and on to Virginia Beach. Owned by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), it is operated and maintained by Elizabeth River Crossings under a 58-year public–private partnership concession agreement. Formerly a toll-free facility, open road tolling was implemented on February 1, 2014 by VDOT to help finance repairs and expansion to the tunnel.

Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park

The Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park is a linear regional park in Northern Virginia. The park's primary feature is the Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Trail, an asphalt-surfaced paved rail trail that runs through densely populated urban and suburban communities as well as through rural areas. Most of the trail travels on top of the rail bed of the former Washington and Old Dominion Railroad, which closed in 1968.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honoré Mercier Bridge</span> Bridge in Quebec and Montreal, Quebec

The Honoré Mercier Bridge in Quebec, Canada, connects the Montreal borough of LaSalle on the Island of Montreal with the Mohawk reserve of Kahnawake, Quebec and the suburb of Châteauguay on the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River. It is the most direct southerly route from the island of Montreal toward the US border. It carries Route 138, originally Route 4. It is 1.361 km (0.846 mi) in length and contains four steel trusses on its first section. The height of the bridge varies from 12.44 m (40.8 ft) to 33.38 m (109.5 ft) with the highest sections located over the St. Lawrence Seaway. The bridge is named after former premier of Quebec Honoré Mercier.

Huguenot Memorial Bridge is located in Henrico County and the independent city of Richmond, Virginia. It carries State Route 147 across the former Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, the James River and Kanawha Canal, and the James River in the Fall Line region above the head of navigation at Richmond.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transportation in Virginia</span> Overview of land sea and air transport systems in Virginia

Transportation in the Commonwealth of Virginia is by land, sea and air. Virginia's extensive network of highways and railroads were developed and built over a period almost 400 years, beginning almost immediately after the founding of Jamestown in 1607, and often incorporating old established trails of the Native Americans.

The Gilmerton Bridge, originally a twin bascule drawbridge, is now a vertical-lift bridge which spans the Southern Branch Elizabeth River in the City of Chesapeake in South Hampton Roads in southeastern Virginia. Completed in 1938, it carries U.S. Route 13 and US 460 and is part of Military Highway. The Gilmerton Bridge is operated by the City of Chesapeake.

The Raymond E. Baldwin Bridge is a concrete segmental bridge composed of eleven spans crossing the Connecticut River between Old Saybrook, Connecticut and Old Lyme, Connecticut. The bridge carries Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, with an average daily traffic of 82,500 vehicles.

Amtrak Old Saybrook–Old Lyme Bridge Railroad bridge in Connecticut

The Amtrak Old Saybrook–Old Lyme Bridge is the last crossing of the Connecticut River before it reaches Long Island Sound. It is a Truss bridge with a bascule span, allowing boat traffic to pass through. The bridge is owned by Amtrak and used by Northeast Regional, Acela Express, Shore Line East and a few freight trains traversing the Northeast Corridor. It can be seen from the Raymond E. Baldwin Bridge, as well as from various points on Route 154.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Bridge (Potomac River)</span> Bridge series between Washington, D.C. and Virginia

Long Bridge is the common name used for a series of three bridges connecting Washington, D.C. to Arlington, Virginia over the Potomac River. The first was built in 1808 for foot, horse and stagecoach traffic. Bridges in the vicinity were repaired and replaced several times in the 19th century. The current bridge was built in 1904 and substantially modified in 1942 and has only been used for railroad traffic. It is owned by CSX Transportation and is used by CSX freight trains, Amtrak intercity trains, and Virginia Railway Express commuter trains. Norfolk Southern Railway has trackage rights on the bridge but does not exercise those rights. In 2019 Virginia announced that it would help fund and build a new rail bridge parallel to the existing one to double its capacity, following the plans that have been studied by the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) and Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) since 2011.

The Veterans Bridge is a fixed span concrete bridge that spans the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River in the Deep Creek neighborhood of Chesapeake in southeastern Virginia, USA. The bridge, which partially opened in 2014, currently carries two lanes of U.S. Route 17 on each direction across its northbound and southbound spans. The corridor frequently acts as a bypass route for congested I-64 High Rise Bridge traffic. It replaces the much shorter and smaller Dominion Boulevard Steel Bridge, which because of its 11-foot underwater clearance opened on average of 16 times per day.

References

  1. Robert O. Norris Bridge at Structurae
  2. "Route 3, Robert O. Norris Bridge Rehabilitation". VDOT. VDOT. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  3. "Virginia Department of Transportation Jurisdiction Report Daily Traffic Volume Estimates Including Vehicle Classification Estimates (Page 7)" (PDF). VDOT. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  4. "Bridging the Rappahannock (pg 4)" (PDF). Rappahannock Record Archives. Rappahannock Record/Southside Sentinel. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  5. "Norris Bridge". Dominion Energy. Retrieved 2018-04-04.
  6. "Removal of power lines to cause delays on bridge". Rappahannock Record. Retrieved 2021-08-14.
  7. "SCC staff recommends Dominion Virginia Power evaluate option for proposed rebuild project". TransmissionHub. TransmissionHub. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  8. "SCC orders underwater power line across Rappahannock, no towers | Rappahannock Record". rrecord.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  9. "Rappahannock River Crossing (Formerly Norris Bridge) 115 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project - Rappahannock Transition Station" (PDF). Dominion Energy. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
  10. "'Abnormal sound' prompts inspection, 3-ton weight limit for Norris Bridge". WTVR. WTVR. Retrieved 15 August 2021.