The McCormick Road bridge over Emmet Street is now off limits to vehicles over eight tons.
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has deemed the aging bridge off limits. That will force fire trucks, buses, and delivery vehicles to find an alternate route from one end of grounds to the other.
VDOT will need to decide whether it will replace or repair the bridge.
Virginia Department of Transportation
Press Release
The bridge that carries McCormick Road over Route 29 business (Emmet Street) in Charlottesville has been posted for a reduced weight limit due to its deteriorating condition. Vehicles weighing more than eight tons are prohibited from crossing the bridge.
The weight limit bars buses, many commercial trucks and emergency vehicles from using the bridge. The weight restriction will be in effect until permanent repairs are made or the bridge is replaced. Engineers with the Virginia Department of Transportation are evaluating the bridge and will determine the best option to restore all traffic to the bridge.
In late May significant deterioration of the bridge's deck was discovered. Emergency repairs were made to allow vehicles to continue using the bridge and shielding was placed on the underside of the bridge in order to protect the Emmet Street roadway below from debris.
The steel-beam, concrete-deck bridge was built in 1931 and is inspected every year in accordance with
National Bridge Inspection Standards. For more information about Virginia's bridges and VDOT's bridge inspection program, including current conditions of the state's bridges, FAQs and video of a bridge inspection, visit VDOT's website,
www.virginiadot.org/info/Bridge.asp.
