The Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad crossing over the S. Branch of the Elizabeth River is a lift bridge connecting Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia.
The Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad crossing over the South Branch of the Elizabeth River is a through-truss lift bridge connecting Portsmouth and Chesapeake, Virginia. The structure includes a Warren through-truss lift span and three Warren through-truss approach spans.
The original crossing, with a swing span main span and two approach through spans, was built in 1898. 1
The Hampton Roads Maritime Association had advocated for a new bridge for many years to replace the swing span. 1 The old bridge had a narrow horizontal clearance and was misaligned with a nearby highway bridge, making navigation difficult for vessels in the channel. 1 2 3 After planning efforts were concluded, the Secretary of the Army granted final approval for the bridge. 1 Congress had already allocated $800,000 for the initial phase, with the federal government covering 85% of the project’s cost.
In November 1955, the Lang Construction Company of Hampton was awarded a $388,489 contract to build foundation piers and approaches for a new $2,690,000 railroad bridge. 1 The superstructure contract went to the American Bridge Division of the U.S. Steel Corporation, 3 while the Carpenter Construction Company of Norfolk won a $134,542 contract in January 1958 to build protective fenders for the new bridge and dismantle the old crossing. 4
The new lift span was installed on June 30. 5
The completed bridge featured a 378-foot-long lift span, providing a 300-foot horizontal and 135-foot vertical clearance. 1 2 3 It opened in the fall of that year. 4
Details
- State: Virginia
- Route: Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad
- Status: Active (Railroad)
- Type: Vertical Lift, Warren Through Truss
- Total Length: 1,150' (1958)
- Main Span Length: 385' (1958)
- Spans: 0
- Deck Width: 0
- Roadway Width: 0
- Height of Structure: 0
- Above Vertical Clearance: 0
- Navigational Clearance: 135' (1958)
Sources
- “Lang Expected To Get Initial Rail Span Work.” Ledger-Star, 18 Nov. 1955, p. 14.
- Harrell, Charlton. “Chip on His Shoulder Weighs Tons.” Ledger-Star, 24 Jun. 1958, p. 15.
- “Study of Current Precedes Floating of Lift Span.” Virginian-Pilot, 15 Jun. 1958, p. 24.
- “Belt Line Bridge Bids Submitted.” Ledger-Star, 24 Jan. 1958, p. 10.
- “Notice.” Ledger-Star, 25 Jun. 1958, p. 14.