Cars and trucks breeze under the Route 61 bridge in Narrows. It is one with wrapped wood pilings still holding it up.
"If you get under it you can see where they've put blocks, blocks, and more blocks," said
Several years ago, the federal highway administration gave the bridge a very poor rating for adequacy and safety. From zero to 100, the bridge was scored a 9.3.
Some living here say replacing the more than 50-year-old deteriorating structure is long overdue
"They keep saying they're going to start and start, but their dates and our dates don't seem to match"
A VDOT spokesman says a lot of behind the scenes work has been happening on this bridge in Narrows, but that crews will begin turning dirt here by the end of the month.
We checked, and according to the contract, construction on the $15.6 million replacement bridge is right on schedule for completion in the Fall of 2013.
"We've looked forward to it for years, it's been part of a five-year plan, and 8-year plan, a 20 year plan... and it was only when the stimulus money became available, that we became eligible for it," said Clayton Davis, Mayor for the Town of Narrows.
VDOT still inspects the bridge once a year and has the authority to shut it down should any major safety concerns arise.
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