Email update today:

Citizens/Residents/Sunbathers/Sportspersons/Everybodyelse:

So you’ve got a great weekend to relax and enjoy the outdoors with the blue skies and great temps. You’ve stretched out in your beach chair, rubbed on the cocoa butter, put in the ear buds, grabbed an icy cold drink and NOW . . . you need something to read.

Well, you’re in luck. Just in time for your weekend, you have before you the missive commonly known as the Lesner Bridge Update . . . also popularly known as the Kingfish Chronicle or the Wojo Report . . . take your pick. In this edition, Kingfish enlightens us all with the latest work and accomplishments as we near the finish line.

While it may be somewhat briefer than past reports, he still finds a way to slip in some of that engineer lingo like “base and intermediate asphalt” and “subgrade on the east side” and “falsework for the gantry launch.” (I know . . . I’m getting goosebumps too!) It just doesn’t read the same when an English major knucklehead writes it.

Even better – just to show you Public Works knows how to economize – you can take this report, print it out and use it on the beach to swat the sand fleas and flies, and then dispose. “Multi-use” is our creed in the PW department . . . (as in – after I write this stuff I have to go empty the trash in everyone’s office and clean the windows . . . they’re “multi-using” me).

As always, we appreciate your questions and e-mails, so please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are regularly updating information on our WEB page at: http://www.vbgov.com/lesner-bridge. You can also follow us on Twitter at: @lesnerbridge.

If you haven’t already signed up for the City’s FB page or Twitter account, I encourage you to do so; that means you will receive timely updates from all things City-related and show that annoying friend who keeps running his yap about everything he THINKS he knows that you are far better informed than him.

If you know of someone who would like to be added to our update list, please have them get in touch with me at this e-mail address and I will be glad to add them – and please feel free to pass this along to others.

Thanks again for all of your interest and patience throughout this project.

Please . . . enjoy this weekend.

And don’t forget . . . stay safe, look out for each other, and put the daggone phone down while you’re driving – don’t make an LOL a DOA.

Drew Lankford
Media and Communications
Department of Public Works
City of Virginia Beach

dlankfor@vbgov.com
(O) 757.385.8062
(C) 757.409.4353

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Folks:

Since the last update in March, McLean has completed construction of the EB bridge substructure, including Pier columns 8 and 9. They have also completed spans 5, 6, and 7 of the bridge superstructure and are currently working on span 8 (of 10). The new bridge fender system, including the navigational lighting has also been completed.

At the bridge approaches on both sides of the bridge, sidewalks have been placed, curb and gutter has been installed, painting of the retaining walls has been completed, and installation of the permanent handrailing is nearly complete. Base and intermediate asphalt pavement have been placed on the western bridge approach at East Stratford Road,and the subgrade on the east side of the bridge is being prepared for upcoming paving work near Vista Circle.

Multi-use Path Lighting of the new EB Lesner Bridge

Over the next two weeks, the bridge contractor will:

· Complete Span #8 of the eastbound bridge and launch the gantry to Span #9;

· Pave the eastern bridge approach and the intersection of Shore Drive and Vista Circle;

· Install falsework for the gantry launch at Pier #9;

· Install the expansion joint at Abutment A (near Lynnhaven Boat Ramps); and

· Continue to install bridge lighting systems.

View Looking West at completed Span #7 (right) of the new EB Lesner Bridge

At this point it looks like we will move the eastbound traffic to the new bridge by the end of August 2018. Once we complete this traffic switch, we will move to the westbound bridge to remove the temporary concrete barriers and fencing in order to build the 10-foot wide multi-use path. We are looking at total project completion by November 2018, including all street lighting and landscaping.

That’s it in a nutshell.

Thank You,

-Chris

Christopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Engineering Construction Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com