Deep Creek AIWW Bridge Replacement Project

 

Project Update to Chesapeake City Council

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 June 23, 2020 City Council Meeting.

Col. Kinsman's update included progress on real estate acquisition and condemnation efforts, utility relocations and requests for additional authority and funding. Col. Kinsman emphasized that some progress has been made since the January public meeting and the entire U.S. Army Corps of Engineers team remains committed to completing the project. The colonel capped his remarks by providing an update to the project’s timeline.

Specifically, he stated:

• Real-property interests have been acquired on 33 of 40 parcels
• Headquarters USACE determined that new appraisals are required to support condemnation actions
• A contract for appraisals is expected to be awarded in July, with the new appraisals provided to Norfolk District the following month
• All four companies involved in utility relocation have signed agreements with USACE
• Utilities cannot be relocated until USACE acquires the underlying property interests
• Completion of utility relocations estimated for September 2021
• Recertification of project costs completed in April determined an additional $9.9 million needed for construction
• Pending completion of real estate and utility actions, and obtaining additional funding, the revised estimated construction completion date is April 2025

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.