CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WVEC) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced federal funding Tuesday in the amount of $22 million towards the replacement of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway Deep Creek Bridge.
Of the $22 million, $12 million is contingent upon Congress' approval of the USACE budget for fiscal year 2017. $10 million was approved in the USACE's Work Plan for fiscal year 2016 and is available for expenditure by the USACE without further Congressional approvals.
The federal funds will combine with $20 million proposed by the Virginia Department of Transportation through the Commonwealth's new prioritization process to fully fund the $42 million bridge replacement project.
"We are elated that after years of effort and the bi-partisan support of Congressman Forbes and Senators Kaine and Warner, we have come to a place where work can begin to build the AIW bridge in Deep Creek," said Mayor Alan P. Krasnoff. "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has more than a few projects on its plate, but we are grateful that they and the President share Chesapeake's view that creating a reliable hurricane evacuation route and resolving issues of safety and congestion makes good sense."
The AIW Deep Creek Bridge is an 82-year-old, two-lane drawbridge which serves as the crossing of U.S. Route 17 Business over the Dismal Swamp Canal.
The Bridge, owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is considered "functionally obsolete," meaning the bridge design is not suitable for its current use due to inability to handle current traffic volume, speed, size or weight of vehicles.
The project would replace the two-lane drawbridge with a five-lane drawbridge and roadway improvements at both approaches. Following replacement of the bridge, the City of Chesapeake would take over operation and maintenance from the USACE.
Chesapeake has already expended $1.5 million towards right-of-way acquisition in preparation for the project.
Chesapeake officials urge citizens in both Virginia and northeastern North Carolina to contact their Members of Congress in support of the $12 million in the USACE FY17 budget for the Deep Creek Bridge.
For more information on the AIW Deep Creek Bridge, click here.
