Future of Tucker Swamp Rd bridge unknown

Published 10:34 am Friday, October 28, 2011

ZUNI—No time frame has been set for reopening the Tucker Swamp Road bridge over Norfolk Southern’s railroad tracks in Zuni.

The Virginia Department of Transportation closed the bridge on Oct. 20 after an annual safety inspection.

“Our engineers are reviewing VDOT’s inspection report,” Robin Chapman, director of public relations for Norfolk Southern’s office in Norfolk, said Thursday. “After they have examined it and evaluated it, they will get with VDOT to determine what repairs are needed. At this time I can’t give you a timeline on reopening.”

VDOT said it was concerned with deterioration of critical portions of the bridge. As of Thursday, VDOT also did not have a timeframe for the bridge’s reopening.

“We are waiting for a follow-up from the railroad,” said Brooke Grow, public information officer with VDOT in Suffolk. “Since Norfolk Southern owns the bridge, VDOT is working with them to make the appropriate repairs and get the road back open to traffic.”

Chapman said he isn’t sure of the bridge’s age.

“None of our records that I can access quickly give a date of construction for the bridge,” he said. “We will have to research deeper to determine. This particular design was used for overhead highway bridges on the former N&W as early as the 1940s.

A detour was set up for motorists.