Nov. 9 Key Vote for Waterloo Bridge – Time to Act!

Posted on by Marco Sanchez

This text was taken from an email alert we sent out on November 4, 2017.

Waterloo bridge.
Known for its distinctive iron and steel Pratt through-truss, the bridge spans the Rappahannock River and links Waterloo and Old Bridge roads in Culpeper to Jeffersonton Road in Fauquier.

Dear Supporter,

After nearly four years working to save Waterloo Bridge, success is within arm’s reach! On November 9, 2017 at 6:30pm the Fauquier Board of Supervisors will make a decision that will effectively determine the bridge’s fate.

If the Fauquier Board APPROVES a resolution of support, then rehabilitation can move forward.

If the Fauquier Board DOES NOT APPROVE a resolution of support, everyone’s collective efforts to save this historic structure will likely have been wasted.

Please attend the public hearing next Thursday, or at a minimum, send a letter to the Board letting them know you want to Save Waterloo Bridge!

Where Things Stand

The push to save Waterloo Bridge, which has been closed to vehicle traffic since early 2014, has generated a lot of citizen support over the years. Take a look at our website for a brief synopsis >>

A road with a "road closed" warning sign.
Built in 1878, it was the oldest metal truss bridge still in service in Virginia, before it closed.

In a major positive step, both Fauquier and Culpeper County adopted resolutions in 2016 requesting that the bridge be rehabilitated rather than replaced. VDOT requested that the counties contribute to the cost of the rehabilitation; however, both chose not to contribute any matching funds. This paralyzed the project, however, earlier this year, a private donor came forward with a pledge to provide $1,000,000 towards the project.

In light of the generous pledge, VDOT has decided to move the project forward without a contribution of funds from the counties.

The action needed: Fauquier County Board of Supervisors now must pass a resolution granting authority to the County Administrator to move forward with appropriate agreements to utilize the $1,000,000 in private funding as a match.

Citizen Support is Key

The county has expressed some concern about potential cost overruns and any liability they might have. However, we’ve been told they are drafting a version of the resolution that will provide all of the parties with the comfort needed to move forward.

Please express your support for the rehabilitation by coming out to the Board of Supervisors public hearing on November 9th, 2017 at 6:30 pm in the Warren Green Building (10 Hotel Street, Warrenton VA). Your comments can be a very simple and powerful sentence in support of the rehabilitation of the bridge:

I support the rehabilitation of Waterloo Bridge because [insert reason here].
(i.e. I drive on it, I appreciate its history, it’s one of the last of its kind, etc)

If you cannot make it to the meeting please use our advocacy letter to send the Supervisors an email.

Let’s make it clear to Fauquier County Supervisors and VDOT that there is strong support for rehabilitating Waterloo Bridge!

Sincerely,

Julie Bolthouse
Fauquier Field Representative
The Piedmont Environmental Council
jbolthouse@pecva.org

P.S. I’m going to walk over to the Warren Green building around 6:15pm next Thursday. Let me know if you’re interested in joining me at PEC’s office beforehand for some pizza and conversation about the bridge! We can walk over together.