The Advance Mills bridge in northern Albemarle County reopened October 24 after being closed almost a week for inspections—the latest example of the gentle precautions needed to protect an aging bridge.
A truss structure, the Advance Mills bridge on Route 743 carries about 1,000 vehicles per day. Its present site, above the North Fork of the Rivanna, dates to 1948, though it was probably built early in the 20th century, according to Lou Hatter, Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) regional spokesman.
The bridge carries a three-ton weight limit, which excludes everything larger than a passenger car. Even a full-size pickup truck carrying a load of wood would exceed that limit, and it definitely rules out ambulances, school buses or delivery trucks.
After damage to vertical supports—presumably caused by overweight vehicles—the bridge was closed for roughly two months this summer in order to make repairs (the parts had to be specially crafted because of the age). Based on information from residents the limits were being broken, VDOT asked the Board of Supervisors to increase police vigilance of the limit.
If these measures aren’t followed, Hatter says that collapse is the most extreme possibility, but that the more likely outcome would be a bridge closure. “We’re confident that it’s safe for vehicles that weigh three tons or less,” says Hatter. To ensure safety, VDOT has ramped up inspections to every six months from the normal annual basis.
As for replacing the bridge, VDOT has started looking at what type of new bridge might be necessary and has some money to work on the preliminary engineering process. But the Board of Supervisors must prioritize the project in their secondary road improvement plan in order to make it a reality.