The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) was selected by The National Partnership for Highway Quality (NPHQ) as the 2007 State Winner in its National Achievement Award program for the Lord Delaware Bridge Replacement Project in West Point. The bridge is located on Route 33 at West Point and crosses the Mattaponi River in King William County.

The NPHQ made the announcement in November in San Diego, Calif. NPHQ, is a partnership of federal, state and roadway industry leaders and officials that promotes highway quality, safety and service to the highway user.

The Lord Delaware Bridge was the first phase of the West Point Bridge Replacement Project and was completed in November 2006.

NPHQ Executive Director Bob Templeton noted that VDOT had to address a number of environmental challenges with the Chesapeake Bay watershed, including time-of-year restrictions for working in water, tidal influences and a soft subsurface as it worked to relieve major traffic bottlenecks for rail, river barge and vehicular traffic traveling between I-64 and Route 17.

All of these elements contributed to the successful completion of this project on time, on budget and without claims:

• Formal partnering commitments

• A focus on context-sensitive solutions

• Frequent communication with community members

• Use of innovative designs such as the Bulb-T, a pre-stressed concrete girder that allows for longer bridge span lengths and reduces the number of piers needed in deep water.

Gale Dickerson, VDOT’s area construction engineer said, “I am proud to have been involved with this project. The contracting team of McLean Contracting and Bryant Contracting, and the construction management team led by Jamie Browder of Wilber Smith Associates were all excellent to work with.”

David S. Ekern, VDOT commissioner said, “The project team’s commitment to partnering to deliver a quality product on time and on budget enabled them to develop innovative solutions to the challenges presented by this project. The Town of West Point can be proud to have this bridge as a gateway to their community.”

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