Bridging the Past and the Future: Deep Creek Bridge Project Enters Critical Phase

By HRCNN Staff Writer | August 2025 | Chesapeake, VA

In the Deep Creek neighborhood of Chesapeake, Virginia, an infrastructure transformation nearly a century in the making is approaching a defining moment. For decades, the Deep Creek Bridge—a narrow, two-lane bascule span built in 1934—has served as a vital connector for drivers, businesses, and maritime traffic along U.S. Route 17. But with daily traffic counts nearing 30,000 vehicles and the structure long labeled “functionally obsolete,” calls for a replacement intensified in recent years as congestion worsened and maintenance challenges mounted.

After years of delay, the long-anticipated replacement is now underway. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the City of Chesapeake, broke ground on the Deep Creek Bridge Replacement Project in fall 2023. The $59.5 million investment, awarded to Archer Western Construction LLC, will replace the aging drawbridge with a five-lane, dual-leaf bascule span situated approximately 100 feet south of the original crossing. Measuring 144 feet in length and 60 feet wide, the new bridge is designed to enhance capacity, improve safety, and preserve navigational access along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

Although the original bridge was a product of its time—built when vehicle weights were lighter and the region less developed—it has become a choke point in an increasingly urbanized corridor. Emergency vehicles, freight haulers, and commuters have long faced steep inclines, lane constraints, and unexpected closures tied to the aging draw system. The new structure, once complete, will accommodate modern traffic standards and improve throughput on a critical stretch of Route 17.

Construction has not gone unnoticed by residents and local businesses. Throughout 2024 and into 2025, crews have staged materials, shifted traffic, and coordinated complex utility relocations. Intermittent closures and detours—particularly near Mill Creek Parkway—have drawn both frustration and understanding from the community.

“I’ve lived here for over 20 years,” said one business owner located near the construction zone. “Yes, it’s been tough, but I see this as an investment that will pay off for the next generation.”

Despite soft soils and subsurface challenges that complicated early foundation work, the project remains on schedule. Structural elements such as the concrete decking and mechanical components for the draw spans are now in place. A newly constructed bridge tender’s house stands ready, and according to USACE officials, traffic is expected to begin shifting onto the new span before the end of 2025. The full project is slated for completion by late 2027.

Community members can receive traffic alerts and construction updates by texting “DCBridge” to 888777 or by visiting the City of Chesapeake’s dedicated project page. The replacement bridge will remain toll-free and, upon completion, operations and maintenance responsibilities will transfer to the City.

Though not without inconvenience, the Deep Creek Bridge replacement has come to represent more than just a transportation upgrade. It reflects the long arc of public infrastructure development—where federal legislation, local advocacy, and engineering innovation converge to meet the needs of a growing region. The effort also underscores a broader shift in Hampton Roads, where legacy infrastructure built in the early 20th century is now being reimagined for resilience, capacity, and future growth.

The new bridge is expected to not only improve daily life for thousands of residents but also support long-term economic development, strengthen freight movement, and enhance emergency response times across the southern Chesapeake area. As the steel rises and the structure takes shape, the project offers a clear reminder that even in an era of rapid digital advancement, the work of building—and rebuilding—physical infrastructure remains a cornerstone of progress.

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