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February 23, 2021

First vehicles in 7 years cross the Waterloo Bridge

Some of the first vehicles cross Wednesday afternoon from Fauquier.

Looking downstream from the Rappahannock River span.

The restored one-lane bridge has a 12-ton weight limit.

The $3.65-million restarted started last April.

New paint protects the 143-year-old iron truss.

Photos/Lawrence Emerson

About 600 vehicles per day crossed the the Waterloo Bridge before its closure in January 2014.

The thing I notice is it doesn’t rattle.

— Rick Dickman

For the first time since January 2014, vehicles rolled across the historic Waterloo Bridge on Tuesday afternoon.

Once slated for abandonment or replacement with a modern structure, the 143-year-old span underwent a $3.65-million restoration over the last 10 months.

The project began last April to strengthen the Rappahannock River bridge that stands south of Orlean and about seven miles west of Warrenton.

A huge crane in November set the restored wrought iron truss back in place and the final work on its approaches began.

“The thing I notice is it doesn’t rattle,” Rick Dickman, who lives near Orlean, said as he crossed the span for the third time Tuesday afternoon in his Chevy pickup truck.

The old wooden deck boards loudly announced any vehicle crossing it.

Because of “significant deterioration,” the Virginia Department of Transportation closed the bridge seven years ago and its status remained in limbo until the late Russell Hitt and his family in 2018 pledged $1 million to help restore it.

The restored span, connecting Fauquier and Culpeper counties, has a weight limit of 12 tons. Six-inch-thick timbers have replaced the old bridge decking. Secured with huge galvanized steel bolts, the rigid deck makes virtually no noise as vehicles cross it.

The single-lane bridge opened two months ahead of schedule.

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Savefauquiercounty2019 · February 24, 2021 at 6:49 pm

Teachers...this is nice but it's on your backs. Think about it. School buses need air conditioners and are forced to drive in overheated buses. The custodial workers don't have enough resources or pay. You are asked to do more with less. But yet the county thinks these millions are ok why the public schools are suffering. It will or may attract residents but people stay because of the qualities of schools. If you attract more residents and retain them, the community prospers. Schools and teachers are the backbone of our society. Educated, experienced nurses will stay. Teachers..wake up. The growth over the past decade was 7,4 percent according to Weldon studies by Uva. This directly impacts you. If your social security benefits are averaged on your salaries, it impacts your retirement. It is long overdue that teachers need to speak up and out. You need someone with a business background to represent your interests. Don`t let thekid old boys screw you anymore.

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