Public meeting set for Deep Creek Bridge Replacement Project

Published Jan. 29, 2020
Motorists travel over the Deep Creek Bridge in Chesapeake, Virginia, which spans the Dismal Swamp Canal on February 9, 2016.  $22 million in federal money is identified in the USACE work plan and president's FY 17 budget to go towards replacing the 80 year-old draw bridge. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)

Motorists travel over Deep Creek Bridge in Chesapeake, Virginia, which spans the Dismal Swamp Canal, Feb. 9, 2016. The city, state and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to replace the old two-lane bridge, which was built in 1934, with a structurally sound 144-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, five-lane, dual-leaf drawbridge. (U.S. Army photo/Patrick Bloodgood)

CHESAPEAKE, Va. – Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city of Chesapeake will host a public meeting Thursday on the Deep Creek Bridge Replacement Project.

The meeting – which takes place at Deep Creek Middle School, 1955 Deal Drive in Chesapeake – is scheduled for 5-7 p.m., with a formal briefing at 6 p.m.

Community members are invited to speak with USACE and city personnel about updates on the project’s status. Exhibits highlighting real estate processes and challenges, utility relocations, funding and bridge designs will be available to review and discuss.

Built in 1934, Deep Creek Bridge is a federally owned and operated two-lane bridge that crosses the Dismal Swamp Canal and Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at U.S. Route 17 Business in Chesapeake’s Deep Creek section. The single-leaf drawbridge is considered functionally obsolete because of increasing traffic, a very narrow roadway and poor alignment with connecting roads.

The old two-lane bridge will be replaced by a structurally sound 144-foot-long, 60-foot-wide, five-lane, dual-leaf drawbridge. The project, estimated at $57.9 million, is fully designed and includes approaching roadway improvements.

Engineers are targeting early next year for a construction start date. Project completion is expected in 2024.

For more information about Thursday’s public meeting, contact the Norfolk District Public Affairs Office at 757-201-7606 or DLL-CENAO-PA@usace.army.mil.

To learn more about the project, visit www.nao.usace.army.mil/About/Projects/AIWW-Deep-Creek-Bridge/.