UDC endorses conceptual Arthur Ashe Boulevard bridge design and forms subcommittee to refine gateway, bike connectivity and lighting

The Urban Design Committee on July 10 provisionally endorsed the conceptual design for replacement of the Arthur Ashe Boulevard bridge over the CSX rail corridor and formed a subcommittee to work with the applicant on refining motifs for the gateway, public-art options, bicycle connectivity and lighting.

Public Works presented the project as a federally funded bridge replacement (Federal Highway Administration funding) to replace a structurally deficient four‑span bridge with a two‑span structure and to raise the roadway approximately seven feet to meet CSX clearance requirements. The proposed plan preserves two travel lanes in each direction and adds a widened shared‑use path on the west side and a wide sidewalk on the east side, integrated seating and planters, slotted metal shade canopies, a web‑mesh perimeter fence and an overhead gateway structure intended to create a landmark presence along the corridor linking the Diamond District and Scott’s Addition.

Designers said the bridge and gateway concept draw on industrial character and repeated vertical elements to create a distinct entry sequence into the two districts. Committee members praised the multimodal and streetscape intent but identified several issues to refine: the current gateway element appears too plain and could read as an interstate sign; the canopy/column rhythm was described by members as visually fragmented and in need of stronger, higher‑impact elements for drivers; the applicant should reduce heavy structural members and refine the canopy perforations and lighting design to balance nighttime visibility and dark‑sky concerns.

Bikeway advocates noted connectivity gaps: advance plan materials show the shared path on the west side but do not clearly connect to existing/nearby bike facilities on Lee Street or the Moore Street protected track; BikeWalk RVA urged stronger, explicit connections rather than presuming cyclists will cross twice to reach the shared path. City engineers said right‑of‑way geometry constrains a fully separated bike/ped layout on both sides, so designers intend to provide the wider shared path on the west side and high‑quality crossing treatments at intersections.

Project cost estimates presented by the city: $38 million in total estimated project cost — approximately $18.4 million federal FHWA funds, $15.6 million city share, and about $4 million from CSX (figures provided by project manager). The city said the schedule is tight because the federal obligation deadline requires advancing design to advertise in the coming year; the design team is moving to 60% design now with a target to complete final design early 2026 and begin construction after award, with completion aimed for 2028.

The UDC voted to accept the conceptual design with staff recommendations on planting, lighting, structure specifications and maintenance planning and created a subcommittee to meet with the design team on gateway character, public art coordination and bicycle/pedestrian details. The motion passed by roll call; the applicant will bring refined designs and mockups to the subcommittee and later return to UDC for final design review.