The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a public hearing to gather comments on the proposed replacement of the Route 6 (East River Road) bridge that spans the Rivanna River in Fluvanna County.

The hearing will be held Thursday, Oct. 27, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Fluvanna Middle School, 9172 James Madison Highway in Fork Union.
VDOT proposes to replace the existing 22-foot-wide bridge with a concrete structure and new approaches on both ends. The new bridge will carry all legal-weight loads and be 44 feet wide.

The current concrete bridge was built in 1930. Its sufficiency rating is 32.1 on a scale of 0 (poor) to 100 (very good). The rating considers adequacy, whether the bridge is functionally obsolete and the level of service provided to the public. The existing bridge has an 18-ton posted weight limit.

Route 6 will remain open throughout construction, maintaining traffic flow. Toward the end of the construction period, periodic lane closures will occur as the new segment of roadway is tied in to Route 6 on both ends. The Rivanna River bridge carries 1,884 vehicles per day, according to a 2009 count.

The project’s estimated cost is $13.4 million and is subject to change as the project’s design is developed. Construction advertisement is scheduled for 2014.

Project plans and environmental documents, as well as right of way and easement information, will be available for review at the public hearing, as well as at VDOT’s Culpeper District Office located at 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701, (800) 367-7623. Call ahead to ensure that personnel are available to answer your questions.

VDOT staff will be available during the hearing to discuss the project and answer questions. Written and oral comments will be taken at the hearing. Written comments can also be submitted by Nov. 7 to Mr. Howard Tomlinson, Project Manager, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701.

VDOT ensures nondiscrimination in all programs and activities in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. For additional information or assistance, contact VDOT’s Culpeper District Office of Equal Opportunity, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701; telephone 1-800-367-7623, TDD/TTY 800-307-4630 or 711.