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Buckland Bridge dedicated
All but drowned out by the roar of traffic, officials gathered by the side of U.S. 29 in Buckland on Oct. 14 to formally dedicate the new-and-improved Buckland Bridge.
The short, low bridge over the Broad Run at Buckland is easy to miss and a commuter could cross it every day without noticing it. But for more than 180 years, that bridge has allowed commerce between Fauquier County and the metro area.
Located on U.S. 29 just south of the U.S. 15 intersection, the bridge from Gainesville into Buckland has been washed out and replaced many times over the years. During the summer, workers replaced it yet again.
"It was a narrow safety hazard, functionally obsolete for today's needs," said VDOT bridge engineer Nick Roper.
So the bridge was rebuilt in August, though commuters may not have noticed that either.
That's because workers used a new method of construction, laying prefabricated modular pieces, rather than rebuilding the bridge from scratch. That method allowed work to be completed with fewer traffic interruptions and it also ensured that the historic and archeological sites around the bridge were not disturbed.
According to Brentsville Supervisor Wally Covington (R), VDOT's method ensured that the bridge would "be safe for the thousands who cross this span every day and at the same time presented a solution for Buckland's historic integrity to remain intact."
The $2.8 million project was originally intended to take 100 days to complete, said Claude Napier of the Federal Highway Administration. Instead, the pre-fab method allowed workers to complete construction in three weekends, causing minimal disruption to travelers.
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