VDOT to close Aden Road bridge today, May 1, until Spring 2016 when repairs are complete

This morning, May 1, Virginia Department of Transportation crews will close the historic Aden Road bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad.

An inspection has revealed further deterioration of the 132-year-old truss, which was already scheduled for a nine-month closure to begin in July as part of an upcoming rehabilitation project, VDOT said in a news release.

Crews will place barrier prior to rush hour this morning, and drivers will be detoured via Marsteller Drive and Fitzwater Drive about four minutes.

In March 2014, the weight limit was reduced from six tons to four, restricting use including emergency vehicles more than four tons and school buses.

The $5.8 million project, currently advertised for construction, will repair the existing wrought-iron truss for northbound use, construct an adjacent bridge southbound, and make intersection improvements at Marsteller Drive. The bridge will remain closed through spring 2016 when most of the work will be complete.

Built in 1882 for the Keystone Bridge Company, the bridge was purchased in the early 1900s and moved to Aden Road by Norfolk Southern, who transferred ownership to VDOT last year.

The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and the project will include a historic marker and pull-off area.

VDOT will own and maintain both the historic truss and the new bridge after construction is complete.

Aden Road carries about 2,800 vehicles a day, projected to increase to 4,900 by 2036.