The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) on Tuesday, Dec. 10, updated a nearly full Lancaster Elementary School Theater on the long road to a replacement for the Robert O. Norris Jr. Memorial Bridge.
During the public hearing on the environmental assessment, VDOT Fredericksburg district engineer Marcia Parker said the $694 million project, currently slated to begin construction in 2036, could begin earlier if VDOT receives more funding. “Money is the only answer” to speeding up the process, she said.
They are waiting on the results of a Large Bridge Infrastructure Grant from the Federal Highway Administration that could award up to 50% of the cost. “If we only need half the cost, it could accelerate (the timeline),” she said. A decision is expected in January 2025.
