Vienna begins replacing Freeman Store pedestrian bridge, requiring W&OD Trail detour

Construction is set to begin on a replacement of the collapsed pedestrian bridge by the Freeman Store and Museum in Vienna.

The project will require crews to block off a portion of the Washington and Old Dominion Trail, necessitating a detour, according to the Town of Vienna.

“The detour will be set up in the parking lot next to the trail between Maple Avenue and Church Street for the duration of the project,” the town said in a tweet yesterday.

Construction is expected to take approximately six months, Vienna Public Information Director Karen Thayer told FFXnow, putting the project on track to finish this summer.

Heads up! Lookout for a detour along the W&OD trail as crews replace the collapsed pedestrian bridge between the Freeman Store and W&OD Trail. The detour will be set up in the parking lot next to the trail between Maple Avenue and Church Street for the duration of the project. pic.twitter.com/r56yRfklJ7

— Town of Vienna, VA (@TownofViennaVA) February 7, 2023

The town has been looking to build a new bridge over Piney Branch by the Freeman Store for over half a decade now. The existing wooden bridge was closed off in 2016 after water issues and general deterioration rendered it unusable.

Built out of steel and timber, the new bridge will be 52.5 feet long and about 5 feet wide, according to the final engineering plan.

Construction was delayed after an initial request for contractor bids got no responses, and rising costs for lumber and other materials pushed the project over budget, the Vienna Town Council was told in 2021.

The town was able to close the budget gap with a $148,514 allocation from the Virginia Department of Transportation, which provided a grant as part of its Transportation Alternatives program for fiscal years 2023 and 2024.

As reported to VDOT, the bridge replacement carries a total estimated cost of $360,042.

Read more on FFXnow…