The emergency repairs on the Falmouth Bridge are complete, and the right lane of Route 1 northbound will reopen over the Rappahannock River between the Fredericksburg and Stafford County on Friday, March 14, according to the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
VDOT reduced Route 1 northbound to a single lane between Charles Street in Fredericksburg and Carter Street in Stafford on Nov. 1, 2024, after routine bridge inspections revealed rapid deterioration among structural steel elements supporting the bridge deck. The lane closure was necessary to reduce vehicle weight on the bridge and allow construction crews to complete critical repairs.
With the completion of these repairs, the vehicle weight limit on Falmouth Bridge has been upgraded to 27 tons for single-unit vehicles and 40 tons for tractor-trailers. Previously, the emergency restrictions imposed on Nov. 1, 2024, had limited single-unit vehicles to 16 tons and tractor-trailers to 24 tons. With these restrictions lifted, vehicles of all legal weights can once again cross the bridge. Updated signage is being installed to reflect the new weight limits.
Construction crews are finalizing work this week, including spot painting to protect the structural steel from future deterioration. Equipment and scaffolding will also be removed in preparation for the lane reopening. Along with the right travel lane, the sidewalk along the northbound lanes of the bridge will also reopen on Friday.
The Falmouth Bridge, which opened in 1943, carries 40,000 vehicles daily. It serves as a key connection between Fredericksburg and Stafford County and an alternate route for Interstate 95. Truck traffic accounts for about 1-2% of all vehicles crossing the bridge.
VDOT conducts annual inspections of the Falmouth Bridge. In addition, a more in-depth inspection was performed in the summer of 2024 to gather data for a major rehabilitation project currently in development. That project, funded with $86.2 million through the Six-Year Improvement Program, aims to extend the bridge’s lifespan and ensure long-term structural integrity.
The recently completed emergency repair project, estimated at $1.1 million, was carried out by Kokosing Construction Company, Inc., with design work by Whitman, Requardt, and Associates, LLP. The project was funded through state bridge maintenance funds.
