Kings Highway Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The former southern terminus of the now closed bridge | |
| Coordinates | 36°50′N 76°33′W / 36.84°N 76.55°W |
| Carries | Kings Highway |
| Crosses | Nansemond River |
| Locale | Suffolk, Virginia, United States |
| Named for | Kings Highway |
| History | |
| Opened | 1928 |
| Closed | March 2005 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 3,300 motorists a day |
| Location | |
 | |
Kings Highway Bridge was located on the Nansemond River in the independent city of Suffolk, Virginia, United States. Built in 1928, it carried traffic on the Kings Highway, also known as State Route 125, for over 75 years.
The drawbridge was deemed unsafe and closed to traffic in March 2005 by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). In March 2007, VDOT announced that the bridge would be demolished and removed, with no plans for replacement,[1] and demolition began in June.[2] In 2008, several boats struck debris from the old bridge.[3][4]
About 3,300 motorists a day used the bridge that connected Chuckatuck and Driver. Now, they face detours of as much as 19 miles. The cost of a new bridge for the King's Highway crossing was estimated at $48 million in 2006, far more than could be recovered through collection of tolls at that location.[5]
- ^ Applegate, Aaron (2007-03-23). "Demolition set for Kings Highway Bridge; no replacement in sight". The Virginian-Pilot. Archived from the original on 2009-09-05. Retrieved 2009-01-02.
- ^ Applegate, Aaron (2007-06-01). "Kings Highway Bridge in Suffolk begins coming down". The Virginian-Pilot.
- ^ Forster, Dave (2008-09-24). "Debris snags 2 boats near Kings Highway Bridge site". The Virginian-Pilot.
- ^ Forster, Dave (2008-10-01). "Divers find pilings near old King's Highway bridge site". The Virginian-Pilot.
- ^ Applegate, Aaron (2006-01-17). "Getting nowhere on the Kings Highway Bridge". The Virginian-Pilot.