A Survey of Masonry and Concrete Arch Bridges in Virginia

About the report:

Under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, older bridges being considered for upgrading or replacement must be evaluated for historic significance. The Virginia Transportation Research Council conducted a study of Virginia's pre-1932 masonry and concrete arch bridges during the 1980s; however, no comprehensive study of post-1932 bridges has been subsequently undertaken. This study rectifies the lack of information on post-1932 arch bridges and establishes a historic context for Virginia's arch bridges. The project consisted of a field survey, documentary research into arch bridge types, data tabulation, and a comparison of the resulting information on arch bridge chronology and technology. The data were evaluated for historic significance by the Historic Structures Task Group (an interdisciplinary historic transportation study committee) and the State Historic Preservation Officer. Of the 127 existing arch bridges under VDOT's purview, 21 were found to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. This project identified VDOT's significant arch bridges and cleared the remainder of the bridges for necessary maintenance and upgrade.

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