Council committee backs RAISE grant support as VDOT says Mayo Bridge requires full replacement

The Land Use, Housing and Transportation Standing Committee voted to forward a resolution expressing council support for a U.S. Department of Transportation RAISE grant application to help close a substantial funding gap for the Mayo Bridge replacement project.

City public works staff told the committee that after more detailed inspections VDOT determined the bridge’s substructure — piers and abutments — cannot be rehabilitated and must be replaced, changing the project from rehabilitation to total replacement. The director of public works said the minimum estimated cost for total replacement is $195 million, compared with the previously estimated $90 million rehabilitation cost, leaving approximately a $110 million funding gap.

The RAISE grant program has a national notice of funding opportunity and a maximum award per project of $25 million; the program requires a 20% local match. Public Works said the grant application will be prepared based on a narrower “option 1” design: one lane in each direction with a minimum 66-foot curb-to-curb width, consistent with public survey input, while noting the city and VDOT will continue analysis of alternative typical sections. Staff said the narrower option is the conservative application basis to secure federal funding while allowing design changes later if additional funds are secured.

Janet Wutka, president of Manchester Alliance, and Brantley Tyndall, director of BikeWalk RVA at Sports Backers, both spoke in support of the grant and urged a lane reduction and robust bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Wutka said the community wants the bridge to be a "community building bridge, not a river dividing the two sides of Richmond." Tyndall noted VDOT estimates that widening the bridge could cost an additional $25–$40 million and warned of trade-offs with other regional projects.

Public works staff said VDOT is leading technical work — traffic analysis, environmental review and structural evaluation — and that VDOT will present preliminary options to the public in spring 2025. The staffer said the city’s application will be attached to a council resolution of support and the mayor will sign the submission; staff described a near-term deadline for the grant application and said council support strengthens the application.

The committee voted to forward resolution 2025 R008 to counsel with a recommendation to approve (Mr. Brenton — Aye; Vice Chair Robertson — Aye; Chair Jones — Aye). Staff said if the RAISE grant is awarded, funds would be available in the federal fiscal year beginning October 1 following award.

The committee emphasized that the resolution is not a final design decision; rather, it allows the city to apply for federal funding and to continue collaborative design and community engagement with VDOT and stakeholders.