Linville Creek Span Set To Close

The section of West Springbrook Road in Broadway between South Main Street and Early Drive will close Monday, requiring motorists to use a detour to cross Linville Creek.

 

The bridge, used by Broadway commuters to reach Harrisonburg, the interstate and Main Street, or Va. 42, will be closed until March 18, officials said.

 

The Virginia Department of Transportation awarded the $2.9 million project to Plecker Construction Co. of Staunton on May 8, and construction began last summer, said Sandy Myers, spokeswoman for VDOT’s Staunton District, which includes Rockingham, Shenandoah and Page counties.

 

“It’s a very important project,” Broadway Town Manager Kyle O’Brien said Thursday. “The council identified it as our number one transportation priority several years ago.”

 

The one-lane Thacher truss bridge experiences significant congestion during heavy traffic times, O’Brien said.

 

“This [project] should alleviate a majority of that,” he said.

 

The old bridge could not handle the burden of firetrucks and other weighty vehicles, according to Myers.

 

According to O’Brien, the project had been talked about for some time, and VDOT worked with Sen. Mark Obenshain, R-Harrisonburg, to acquire money for the project, which is scheduled to be completed by April 30.

 

The 114-year-old bridge, listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and the Virginia Landmarks Registry, will remain as a pedestrian path for walking and biking.

 

The bridge is one of only two like it in the country, O’Brien said, referring to the bridge’s engineering and design.

 

Suggested Detour

 

While the bridge is closed, VDOT recommends the following detour:

 

From South Main Street, south of Broadway and from Springbrook Road west of Broadway, travel on South Main Street north to Turner Avenue.

 

Follow detour signs and turn left onto Turner Avenue. Travel west on Turner Avenue to Sunset Drive. Turn left onto Sunset Drive heading south to Springbrook Road. Turn left onto Springbrook Road heading east to Early Drive.

 

Contact Alex Rohr at 574-6293 or arohr@dnronline.com