Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) applauded Governor Glenn Youngkin’s announcement that construction to replace the aging Robert O. Norris Jr. Bridge will begin in 2028—eight years ahead of schedule—thanks to new funding made available through the Commonwealth Transportation Special Structures Program Revenue Bond Act of 2025.

The Norris Bridge, which connects the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula across the Rappahannock River, has long served as a vital transportation artery for residents, first responders, and businesses in the region. Opened in 1957 with a 50-year lifespan, the bridge now carries more than 7,500 vehicles daily—far beyond its original design capacity—and has been deemed "fracture critical" by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

“For years, I have fought to ensure that the replacement of the Norris Bridge remained a top priority at the local, state, and federal levels,” said Congressman Wittman. “This announcement is a major win for the people of Virginia’s First District, who deserve safe, modern infrastructure that meets today’s transportation and safety standards. Advancing this project eight years ahead of schedule reflects the urgency and importance of this effort.”

“Thanks to Congressman Wittman’s years of dedicated advocacy with Secretary Duffy, former Secretary Chao, and others, along with the strong collaboration at the federal, state, and local levels, we are in a position to accelerate the construction of a new Norris Bridge,” said Governor Youngkin. “This new bridge will not only meet the daily travel needs of residents and businesses, but will also help welcome visitors to these beautiful waterfront regions. Through this unified effort, we are delivering the new bridge nearly a decade sooner than expected, ensuring long-term benefits for these communities and their future growth.”

"This replacement bridge will have an incredibly positive impact for the citizens and travelers between the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck," said Virginia Secretary of Transportation W. Sheppard Miller III. "At over sixty percent wider, this bridge will not only be a much safer connection, but it will also help spur economic activity between these two important peninsulas. Congressman Wittman's strong advocacy has been instrumental in bringing us to where we are today."

Congressman Wittman has been a vocal advocate for the bridge’s replacement and has regularly engaged with state and federal agencies:

• Earlier this month, he urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to promptly approve VDOT’s grant application for the Norris Bridge Replacement Project. 
• In July 2024, he advocated on behalf of VDOT to then-U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg for federal support for the Norris Bridge.
• In October 2018, he wrote to then-Virginia Transportation Secretary Shannon Valentine to work closely with localities and constituents affected by the Norris Bridge to ensure its replacement meets the community’s needs.
• In January 2018, he highlighted the urgent need to replace the Norris Bridge to then-U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao.
• Also in January 2018, he wrote to then-Secretary Valentine to urge VDOT and the Commonwealth Transportation Board to prioritize the bridge’s replacement.
• In May 2016, he wrote to then-Virginia Transportation Secretary Aubrey Layne to prioritize the Norris Bridge in the Commonwealth’s transportation planning process. 

Preliminary engineering and right-of-way acquisition are already underway. The new bridge will be constructed alongside the existing span, which will remain open during construction. Once complete, the old bridge will be safely deconstructed.

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