In Design: Falmouth Bridge Rehabilitation Project (Route 1 over the Rappahannock River)

A repair project is funded to improve the condition of the Route 1 bridge over the Rappahannock River, also known as Falmouth Bridge. 

This project will: 

• Mill and overlay of the bridge deck
• Replace the bridge’s concrete rail and sidewalk
• Repair the bridge’s concrete substructure below the bridge deck
• Strengthen and repair the bridge's structural steel girders

Falmouth Bridge opened in 1943. It has four travel lanes and carries an average of 37,000 to 40,000 vehicles a day, according to traffic counts from 2019 and 2021.

Due to the volume of traffic crossing Falmouth Bridge, and that Route 1 serves as an alternate route for Interstate 95, the bridge would need to remain open during construction. Most lane closures would need to be scheduled at off-peak times. 

The project is in the design phase. Public involvement opportunities will be scheduled as design progresses. 

Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations

VDOT considers the inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian facilities as part of every project we undertake, and this review will be part of the Falmouth Bridge repair project.  At a minimum, VDOT will seek to replace the existing sidewalk on the bridge.

Since this is a repair project, and not a full bridge replacement, the bicycle and pedestrian facilities are expected to fit within the existing Falmouth Bridge width. Widening the bridge deck to accommodate a shared use path would require additional structural support, which may surpass the project’s available budget and scope. 

The Falmouth Bridge repair project does not require replacement of the bridge's beams. During a recent repair project at Chatham Bridge between Stafford and Fredericksburg, a slight widening of the bridge deck was possible because the bridge beams were replaced. This allowed the bridge to be widened slightly to fit four travel lanes and a nearly 10-foot-wide shared use path on one side.

Project Documents

Project Narrative

Benefits 

• Restore the condition of Falmouth Bridge
• Avoid a weight posting that could restrict the types of vehicles that can cross it

Major Milestones 

Request for Proposals (RFP) were issued in May 2023 for the first phase of the project's design work. The design contract is expected to be awarded in late 2023.

During the design phase, the schedule will be refined further. 

Current schedule in the draft FY 2024-2029 Six-Year Improvement Program includes:

• Preliminary Engineering begins in FY 2024
• Right of Way/Utility Relocation begins in FY 2027
• Construction begins FY 2028