Work continues on Morgan Ford Road low-water bridge project

WARREN COUNTY – Work continues on the low-water bridge over the Shenandoah River on Route 624 (Morgan Ford Road). It is currently being replaced with a new two-lane bridge in the vicinity of Route 643 (Howellsville Road).

A tractor trailer carries a beam down Morgan Ford Road Tuesday (Sept. 5) afternoon. Work on the new bridge is expected to continue until June 2018. Photos submitted by Royal Examiner subscriber Brian Blodgett.

The project is 0.38 mile long and extends from 0.02-mile south of Route 643 to 0.36-mile north of Route 643, according to a Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) website.

The original multi-span bridge is a single-lane structure built in 1925, which is 321-feet long with a single 11-foot wide lane.

The new bridge will be a two-lane structure, approximately 480-feet long, and feature a 22-foot wide travel way.

The new bridge will be a two-lane structure located at the existing location following the existing alignment. Approximately 480-feet long, the new bridge will have a 22-foot wide travel way. Expected completion date of the new bridge is June 2018.

In 2012 the traffic count on this portion of Morgan Ford was 1876 vehicles per day. The number is projected to increase to 3005 vehicles per day by the year 2035. The total estimated cost for this project is $9.7 million.