It’s been 16 months since I could run directly from my house to downtown Fredericksburg. In June 2020, the Chatham Bridge was closed for total rehabilitation.
VDOT removed the entire road deck during the closed time, refurbished the pillars, and installed a new wider road deck with a separate walk/bike lane.
The completed bridge was opened to pedestrians on Oct 9, 2021, and then to vehicles at 6:20 am on Oct 10, 2021.
Upon my return from Rhode Island, I ran the bridge on Oct 11.
One of my past challenges was to run the old Chatham Bridge from end to end on the center stripe. I was only able to do this once during a snowstorm when traffic was light. With the new barrier, this challenge becomes impractical to attempt.
The walk lanes are on the south side of the bridge. I’m wondering where VDOT will push the snow this winter. If the snow goes onto the walkway, the railing will prevent solar melting.
Another feature VDOT added to the design is a restriction of left turns from and onto River Road. These restrictions will reduce the hazards in that intersection. VDOT placed orange barrels to elongate the median leading to the bridge. I’ve already seen one white Crown Victoria turning left driving around the barrels.
During my run on Oct 14, a large black Suburban tried to get around the barrels to make a left turn from River Road and a W Hazel Construction truck that made a U-turn at the William and Sophia Street intersection. I guess the rules don’t apply to everyone.
The local complainers have already hit social media and letters to the editors on how these restrictions will be impacting their lives. We can’t please everybody.
I’ve run through the Route 3 River Road intersection thousands of times in the past ten years. Too many times to remember, drivers have knocked over the stop sign on River Road. In the past, it was on the median, which would have been on the driver’s left, the wrong side. Thinking the sign should be on their right, the drunks realized they were on the wrong side of the road too late. We’ll see if VDOT has resolved that issue.
While in the middle of the reconstruction, I thought it would be nice for the bridge to hold only bicycle and foot traffic. We’ve been able to drive around for 16 months, reducing the downtown through traffic.
The city and county are promoting the bridge now link the Belmont Ferry Farm Trail and Heritage Trail. The BFF under the bridge to Pratt Park is underwater during heavy rains, and bridge construction trashed parts of the trail. I’m wondering how the city will link to the Heritage Trail. It will probably be on the sidewalks of Caroline Street.
On Oct 14, for the first time in 16 months, I ran my across the bridge and through town 6 mile loop. Going from the bridge walk path to north on Sophia Street was interesting. I don’t know the light pattern and may have run in front of some cars that had the right away. The next time I run that course, I’ll cross Sophia Street first and then William Street.
Sometime next week, I’ll have to cross the bridge and head out to Lee Drive for a long run.
I use south on Sophia Street, west on Charlotte Street, south on Littlepage Street, and south on Lafayette Boulevard. I hope the light patterns crossing Blue Gray Parkway have not changed. And, I get to experience the new traffic circle.
They say, “change is good.”