Historic bridge to undergo $5 million in repairs, expansion in Nokesville

The Aden Road Bridge, located just east of Route 28 in Nokesville, will undergo extensive repairs and expansion as part of a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) improvement project this summer.

The project will cost $5.77 million dollars, according to VDOT.

Built in 1882, the bridge was owned by the Keystone Bridge Company, and was later purchased by the Norfolk Southern Railroad, who transferred the ownership rights to VDOT last year.

The bridge is currently on the National Historic Registry. In order to be placed on the registry, a structure must be more than 50 years old and bear historical significance.

And with a structure that old, there is bound to be deterioration of the structure, which is what prompted the project, according to Thomas Blaser, the Prince William County Director of Transportation.

“The Aden Road Bridge is an old railroad bridge owned by the Norfolk Southern. It’s one lane, so [oncoming] traffic has to wait for the other lane to be clear, and it’s been in disrepair on and off for the last five years,” said Blaser.

Repairs have been done to the Aden Road Bridge in the past, but not an overhaul of this scale. According to Claudia Llana, Preliminary Engineering Program Manager of Prince William for VDOT, it was time to step in and make major repairs following an inspection of the bridge last year.

“…it is presently classified as structurally deficient. VDOT bridge crews inspected the bridge on Thursday, March 27 and posted new weight limit signs the following day, reducing the weight limit on the historic bridge from 6 tons to 4 tons due to further corrosion of the structurally deficient truss bridge,” Llana said.

Blaser said that the current plans are to keep the existing design of the bridge, but that another adjacent lane will be added.

“[VDOT wants to] once and for all, repair the existing bridge, and keep the existing historical trusses like they are, and then build a parallel bridge right next to it. It will look to the user like you have one bridge, but it will be two different structures, side by side,” said Blaser.

Additionally, a new intersection will be placed at Marsteller Drive just past the bridge, according to Llana.

The Prince William County Board of Supervisors has partnered with VDOT to support the project, and they have planned for a closure of the bridge for the entire nine months of planned construction. A detour has been planned for any residents that use the bridge.

Aden Road is considered a low volume roadway.

As a historical fixture, VDOT wanted to ensure that the integrity of the bridge’s design would be maintained throughout the project.

“The VDOT project recognizes the historical significance of the truss bridge and nearby Civil War battlefield sites, and the value to the community of this landmark. The project will rehabilitate the wrought iron truss bridge, reinstall it along the same alignment, and place a historical marker and pull-off area to enhance public appreciation of the bridge and site,” said Llana.

Construction is set for completion in the spring of 2016.