The Virginia Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing concerning improvements to Route 727 (Airport Road) in Rockingham County. The meeting will take place from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8, in the Lecture Room at Turner Ashby High School located at 800 N. Main St., Bridgewater.
Citizens can come in during the meeting hours and discuss the project on a one-on-one basis with VDOT officials and designers. Written comments can be submitted at the meeting or within 10 days after the meeting date to Mr. Michael Fulcher, Virginia Department of Transportation, 811 Commerce Road, Staunton, VA 24401-9029. Oral comments can be recorded at the meeting with the assistance of a court reporter
The project is located on Route 727 (Airport Road) between Route 11 and Route 696, near Mount Crawford and Bridgewater in Rockingham County.
The purpose of this project is to replace the existing bridge over North River and realign Route 727 (Airport Road). The existing bridge, built in 1961, is a single lane, two-span truss structure. The bridge is 15-feet wide and 211-feet long. The eastern approach intersects with Route 11. The paved roadway leading up to the western side of the bridge is approximately 18-feet wide. Approaching the bridge from the west, there are three substandard curves.
The existing bridge will be replaced with a new, two-lane structure in approximately the same location. The proposed bridge will be 40-feet wide and 235-feet long featuring two, 12-foot travel lanes. Of the eight-foot wide shoulders, four-feet will be paved. The road will have a 50-mile-per-hour design speed. This will be achieved by removing three of the substandard curves and realigning Route 727. The hill on the road will have 30 mile-per-hour design speed.
The road currently carries 1,592 vehicles per day. This number is projected to increase to 2,172 vehicles per day by 2035.
The total estimated cost for this project is $ 4,334,857 which includes $458,759 for preliminary engineering, $310,942 for right of way and $3,565,156 for construction. Construction is anticipated to begin in fall 2013.
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Chris Graham
