CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The City of Chesapeake announced on Monday that the US Army Corps of Engineers has awarded a nearly $60 million contract to a firm for the replacement of the Deep Creek Bridge.
In a tweet, the city said construction is expected to start for this project in June of 2023, calling it a "significant milestone."
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District wrote that the $59.5 million contract was awarded to Archer Western LLC of Norfolk, Virginia.
According to Mark Haviland with the US Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District, engineers first studied the bridge back in the 1970s and recommended it needed to be replaced. Another engineering study in the 1990s found the bridge is functionally obsolete.
“So what do we mean by functionally obsolete? That means the bridge does not mean capacity standards, not as wide as it should be for modern traffic,” Haviland said.
“Getting this bridge for a place that’s certainly been at the top of our list for a long time for a long, long time.”
Drivers say the bridge is a long time coming.
“I think it’s a good idea! They need to change that bridge- double wide it and it’s old. It should have been replaced 20 years ago,” Mike Hoyer said.
“I hate coming through here at 4 or 5 o’clock.”
The bridge was built in 1934, and it has been federally owned and operated. It crosses the Dismal Swamp Canal and Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at U.S. Route 17 Business in Chesapeake's Deep Creek section.
“I am so pleased that our partners at the Army Corps of Engineers are reaching this significant milestone towards the replacement of the Deep Creek Bridge," Chesapeake Mayor Rick West told the USACE.
“I know this is one project our Deep Creek neighbors, and everyone who commutes through the area, have been so anxious for and I can’t wait to see work get started.”
The single-leaf drawbridge is considered functionally obsolete because of increasing traffic, a very narrow roadway, and poor alignment with connecting roads.
Driver Denise Bennett said the area has a big problem with backups on the roads surrounding the bridge.
“It’s a great idea. It’s a real traffic hazard. With the way the place is growing, it’s way too small,” Bennett said.
“$60 million sounds like a lot but they have to do something... It definitely needs to be replaced and I know there’s a lot of infrastructure that has to be built.”
Another driver also pointed to traffic problems.
“Everybody is trying to get out, nobody can get out,” Ken Capps said.
“They’re going to get somebody hurt. I’ve seen three or four times that they’ve almost had a collision.”
The old two-lane bridge will be replaced by a structurally sound 144-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, five-lane, dual-leaf drawbridge. The project, which is fully designed, includes approaching roadway improvements.