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What's being done
A new 3/4-mile (4,035-foot) bridge will be built over Black Narrows and Lewis Creek Channel. The bridge will provide motorists with better access to the Town of Chincoteague. A 729-foot connector bridge will be built linking the new bridge to Marsh Island.
The new bridge will maintain a single lane of traffic in each direction, divided by a double line.

Features
The project technically calls for the construction of two new bridges that intersect one another over Black Narrows.
The primary bridge will begin on the west side of Black Narrows at Route 175 and span north to connect with Maddox Boulevard in Chincoteague at the Main Street intersection. The portion of the new span that crosses over Lewis Creek Channel will be a drawbridge.
Motorists will be able to access Marsh Island from the new bridge by using a second bridge called the Marsh Island Connector. The Marsh Island Connector will exit onto Marsh Island at the same location as the existing Black Narrows Bridge.
The new bridges will maintain a single lane of traffic in each direction, divided by a double line. The existing Black Narrows and Chincoteague Channel bridges will be demolished following construction.


Benefits
Reduces traffic congestion in downtown Chincoteague
Allows boats better channel access
Reduces the number of necessary bridge openings
Increases safety by providing wider lanes and shoulders
Improves industrial access by allowing VDOT to consider permits for overweight loads
 

Project Updates
The contract was awarded to American Bridge in January of 2007 and the scheduled completion date is November 9, 2009.
 

Why is this road being built?
The two existing bridges that this project will replace were built in 1939 and 1940. While they remain safe, their age has led to a certain degree of deterioration and subsequently, costly repairs. Additionally, the bridges are narrower than current standards dictate.
 

Why was this project design chosen over alternatives?
The connection to Main Street at Maddox Boulevard facilitates direct access to and from the largest commercial area on Chincoteague Island. It also services most of the traffic going to and from Assateague Island
Downtown traffic congestion will decrease in the vicinity of the existing Route 175 intersection at Main Street in the vicinity of the fire station
The drawbridge on this alignment is the shortest among all alignments that were studied
The new drawbridge will require fewer bridge openings due to its northern location
It improves maintenance of traffic and minimizes disruption of traffic during construction
The Chincoteague Town Council and the Accomack County Board of Supervisors each adopted a resolution supporting the Maddox Boulevard Alignment

Contact Information

Leah Bott, 757-925-1515
 

Contractor

American Bridge

Cost

$68.7 million

Completion Date

November 2009

News paper article (Eastern Shore News)

All photographs and text on this page are courtesy of the Virginia Department of Transportation.