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Region's Main Street Gets Repairs
Bridge repair goes smoothly thanks to light traffic and an unsung hero: quick-dry concrete.
Interstate 95 bridge work goes better than expected.
Repairs to the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 crossing the Rappahannock River weren't supposed to go smoothly yesterday.
But the predicted traffic jam wasn't horrible--certainly not up to summer vacation headache status--and six hours of work was finished in three.
The Virginia Department of Transportation closed the right lane of I-95 north at 9 a.m. for emergency repairs to a loose joint on the 1,083-foot bridge that spans the Rappahannock.
A crew removed a cracked metal strip that posed a risk to motorists. The steel was part of a joint that allows the bridge to expand and contract seasonally.
The jam that resulted never stretched farther than two miles, much shorter than was expected, said VDOT spokeswoman Tina Bundy, who credited a lighter-than-normal traffic volume.
But the day's unsung hero--at least until now--may be the new quick-dry concrete the VDOT crew used. It's called PaveMend, and it allowed workers to finish three hours ahead of schedule.
Most concrete needs warm weather to be poured effectively, said Gary Shelor, VDOT's structure and bridge engineer for the Fredericksburg District. But PaveMend, which was used for the first time in the region, dried faster and was ready to handle traffic by noon, Shelor said.
VDOT didn't do a full repair of the misaligned joint yesterday, and will complete the project at night when the weather warms.
That's just part of the work that is to come along the interstate. VDOT is reminding motorists that removal of the old State Route 627 bridge over I-95 will continue Monday and Tuesday.
Southbound lanes will be closed for about 10 miles from 10 p.m. Monday to 5 a.m. Tuesday. Traffic will be detoured at Exit 140 (Courthouse Road/State Route 630) to U.S. 1.
Only one southbound lane will be closed Tuesday, from 8 p.m. until 5 a.m. Wednesday. VDOT officials will stop traffic for 10- to 15-minute periods, but not until 10 p.m.
Removal of the portion of the bridge over the northbound lanes was completed Wednesday.
By ROB DAVIS
3/5/2005
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