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VDOT replacement of Limekiln Bridge to proceed without second sidewalk to avoid lengthy delay, staff says
Summary
VDOT plans to replace the Limekiln Bridge this winter using existing project funding. City staff told council that adding a second sidewalk on the bridge would require new environmental review and a different funding source, delaying the project, so the city supports the currently funded replacement with a single sidewalk.
City staff updated council on Feb. 13 about plans for a VDOT‑managed replacement of the Limekiln Bridge and said the project is slated to proceed using existing VDOT funding rather than delay the work to add a second sidewalk.
The city manager reported that the bridge has had emergency repairs and that recent inspections raised concerns about the deck’s condition; staff have bolted metal plates to stabilize sinking deck elements. VDOT’s replacement project is fully funded, on a schedule to be bid and constructed beginning in February, and includes a wider sidewalk built to current standards on one side of the bridge.
Residents at a January public meeting had requested a sidewalk on both sides of the bridge. Staff said adding a second sidewalk would trigger additional environmental review, a longer timeline and the need for new funding; for those reasons, the city recommended proceeding with the funded single‑side replacement to avoid delay and potential closure risks from further deterioration. The manager said staff support the idea of clear crosswalks and other pedestrian improvements as part of the project to aid crossings between the side with the sidewalk and the side without.
Staff acknowledged the community preference for two sidewalks and said they will work with VDOT to make the new facility safer for pedestrians within the constraints of the current funding and schedule.
