VDOT to hold design public hearing tonight on replacement of Route 680 bridge in Albemarle

The Virginia Department of Transportation proposes to replace the Route 680 (Browns Gap Turnpike) bridge over Lickinghole Creek in Albemarle County.

At a design public hearing today, the public will have the opportunity to view project plans, speak with members of the project team and provide comments. The public hearing will be held at Brownsville Elementary School, 5870 Rockfish Gap Turnpike, Crozet, VA, 22932, from 5 to 7 p.m. All comments received at the public hearing, and during the 10-day comment period after the hearing, will be reviewed by the project team and included in the public hearing record.

In case of inclement weather the hearing will be held on Monday, July 15, 2024. The location and time will remain the same.

The steel beam and timber deck superstructure of the 1932-era bridge on Route 680 (Browns Gap Turnpike) over Lickinghole Creek, which is posted with a 23-ton weight limit, is structurally deficient and requires rehabilitation. The proposed $4.7 million project, funded by the State of Good Repair program, will replace the bridge with a footprint closely matching the existing one. However, the new bridge will be wider to meet current VDOT standards for local rural roads. The existing superstructure will be replaced with a prestressed concrete voided slab section and an asphalt overlay. 

The new bridge will be open to all legal-weight vehicles. According to a 2021 traffic count, the bridge carries approximately 536 vehicles per day. During construction, a detour will be posted for motorists and access to all properties will be maintained.

The project will be advertised for bids in spring 2027 with construction beginning in the fall of 2027. The project will be coordinated with the upcoming construction of a roundabout at the U.S. 250/Route 240 intersection. More information is available on the project web page. Property impact information and tentative construction schedules will be available at the public hearing.

Comments may be made at the hearing or submitted by Monday, July 22, 2024, to Mr. Anwar Yasin, Project Manager, Virginia Department of Transportation, 1601 Orange Road, Culpeper, VA 22701. Comments may also be emailed to [email protected].  Reference “Route 680 Bridge Replacement Comment” in the subject line.