The Old Dominion Section has had three field trips to the I-895 construction site! The field trips were conducted in 2000, 2001, and in May of 2002 a few weeks prior to it being opened to traffic. The "Grand Opening" is planned for October when the final section of the highway opens.
We encourage anyone who has photographs from these trips to send to us to post on our website.
The pictures shown here are from our field trip held in 2000 when the bridge work was in full swing but roadway construction was not easily accessible. As you can see in the pictures, the weather held long enough for us to poke around the concrete and steel and get an up-close look.
A big thanks to Dave Wesson (VDOT) and Herbert W. Morgan (FD/MK) for providing a tour and showing us a VDOT public/private partnership in action!
Excellent photographs of construction and the most complete history the Route 895 project can be seen on an outstanding transportation website created and maintained by our fellow Old Dominion Section member Scott Kozel. Just click on the link below: http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Route_895_Connector.html You can also visit the official Pocahontas Parkway Website at: http://www.pocahontasparkway.com/
2000 Field Trip Pictures
The $324,000,000 project is the first construction project implemented under the Public-Private Transportation Act of 1995. Funding is being provided by both state funds and private bond investors who will be repaid from toll users of the Parkway. The project will connect Chippenham Parkway at Interstate 95 with Interstate 295. Completion of the Parkway is scheduled for 2002, and will allow motorists to drive through the express toll lanes at 55 mph. The project could also have an interchange at the Richmond International Airport, which would cut the driving time to the airport for Chesterfield and South Richmond residents in half. Another interchange projected for Laburnum Avenue to also greatly enhance access to the southern portions of Richmond.
This 8.8 mile parkway project includes a new bridge over the James River. The clear span of the bridge is the third longest of this type (cast in place segmental) in North America. over two footballs fields long (672 feet). Sixty miles of piling will be used to support the foundation, while each foundation for the main span piers contains 7700 cubic yards (800 trucks) of concrete and 800 tons of reinformcing steel. Over 4,000,000 cubic yards of excavation (regular and borrow), 7500 tons of structural steel, and 230,000 tons of asphalt paving will be required to build the project.
You can also visit the official Pocahontas Parkway Website at:http://www.pocahontasparkway.com/