Deep Creek AIWW Bridge Replacement Project

Deep Creek Bridge Project receives $12.6M in USACE Work Plan

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) delivered to Congress its Fiscal Year 2021 (FY 2021) Work Plan for the Army Civil Works program on Jan. 19, 2021, which included funding appropriations for the Deep Creek Bridge Replacement Project in the amount of $12,657,000. The Work Plan identifies the projects, programs, and activities within the Civil Works program that will receive the FY 2021 funding and how much each will receive. The Deep Creek Bridge replacement was authorized for construction by the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007 and reauthorized at a cost of $59.5 million by the WRDA of 2020. WRDA bills are enacted to authorize water resources projects by USACE and other federal agencies. The $12.6 million in funding will allow the Corps to move forward with construction of the project, following completion of ongoing efforts for real estate acquisition, utility relocations and construction acquisition planning. Read the complete USACE News Release by clicking here. links to external site

Updated Estimated Project Timeline (as of January 2021)

Complete real estate acquisitions: May 2021
Complete utility relocations: September 2021
Advertise for construction: September 2021
Construction contract award: February 2022
Construction start: April 2022
Construction complete: April 2025

NOTE: Project timeline is an estimate that is dependent upon government acquisition of real property interests and on the relocation of utilities in the project area.

Project Update to Chesapeake City Council (January 2021)

U.S. Army Col. Patrick Kinsman, Commander of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, provided an update on the Deep Creek AIWW Bridge Replacement Project to members of Chesapeake City Council at the January 12, 2021, City Council Work Session.

Watch the Colonel's remarks via Youtube.

Background

Built in 1934, AIWW Deep Creek Bridge is a federally owned and operated two-lane bridge that crosses the Dismal Swamp Canal at U.S. Route 17 Business.

In October 1996, the approved initial appraisal concluded the bridge is functionally obsolete because of increasing traffic volumes, too narrow of a roadway and poor alignment with the connecting roads.

Replacing the bridge will improve traffic flow, meet Virginia Department of Transportation and City of Chesapeake requirements, and comes at a time in which road improvements are being made to either side of the bridge. The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plans to replace the Deep Creek Bridge with a five-lane roadway located 100 feet south of the existing bridge. Once construction is completed, the AIWW Deep Creek Bridge will be operated, maintained, and owned by the City of Chesapeake.

Replacement Project Scope

The project, conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will replace the federally-owned Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AIWW) Deep Creek Bridge; a functionally obsolete two-lane split leaf bascule bridge; with a 144-foot long, 60-foot wide five-lane drawbridge. The project includes improvements to the approaching roadways.

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Authorization

The U.S. House of Representatives authorized the replacement of the AIWW Deep Creek Bridge as part of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007. WRDA is a bill dedicated to authorizing the activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Cost

Approximately $57.6 million

Maintenance of Traffic Sequence of Construction

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Traffic Flow Improvement

FAQs

Will the bridge be tolled?
No.

Will vehicles still be able to use the bridge during construction?
Yes! The new south span of the bridge will be built first while the current bridge is still in use. Once the south span is completed, traffic will be diverted to that span, the old bridge will be demolished, and the north span will be constructed in its place.

More information/Updates

Project updates will be posted on this webpage, and on the Active Transportation and Streets Projects page. Traffic impacts due to construction will be listed on the Chesapeake Travel Advisories Calendar, and broadcast via Twitter at @ChesapeakeRoads. For additional information about the Deep Creek AIW Bridge Replacement project, visit the USACE project website.