Interstate 95 James River Bridge

Infobox_Bridge
bridge_name= James River Bridge (I-95)


caption=
official_name= James River Bridge (I-95)
also_known_as=
carries= I-95
crosses= James River
locale= Richmond, Virginia
maint= Virginia Dept. of Transportation
id=
design=
mainspan=
length= 4,185 feet long
width=
clearance=
below=
traffic=
open= 1958
closed=
toll= none
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map_text=
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James River Bridge in Richmond, Virginia carries Interstate 95 across the James River.

History

The original 6 lane structure was built in 1957 and 1958 as part of the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike and was financed with toll revenue bonds issued by the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike Authority, a political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

In 1975, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) assumed the operations of former Turnpike Authority. Although the initial bonds were retired in 1975, additional tolls were collected to finance improvements along other sections of the former Turnpike. Tolls for the bridge and I-95 were finally completely removed in 1992.

Beginning in 1976, a complicated connection with the Downtown Expressway a newer toll road built by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority (RMA), was constructed on the bridge itself.

Flooding

The bridge is high above the river, and is not considered in danger of flooding during periods when the river periodically floods. However, in the past the southern approach has been subject to closure due to flooding of the James River, notably after Hurricane Camille in 1969, Hurricane Agnes in 1972, and Hurricane Gloria in 1985.

It is believed that Richmond's Flood Wall which was completed in 1995 at a cost of about $142 million will prevent such future closures.

The bridge was re-decked by VDOT in 1997. [http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Richmond_Aerial.html]

Trivia

*The eastern edge of the bridge and the Downtown Expressway exit passes very close to the upper floors and clock tower of Richmond's Main Street Station, built in 1901 and served by Amtrak.

External links

* [http://www.richmondcitywatch.com/n_flood_wall.php Richmond's Flood Wall]
* [http://www.vdot.org VDOT]
* [http://web1.dhrm.state.va.us/webcam/southcam.htm DHRM WebCAM] view is from the 13th Floor of the State of Virginia's Monroe Building pointed Southward showing I-95 & James River Bridge in Richmond, Va.

Crossings navbox
structure = Crossings
place = James River
bridge = Interstate 95 James River Bridge
bridge signs =
upstream = CSX Bellwood Subdivision James River Bridge
upstream signs = "CSX, Amtrak"
downstream = Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge
downstream signs =