King Arthur Road Bridge set for major rehabilitation
By Julia Key
The Virginia Department of Transportation is planning a major rehabilitation project of the bridge on King Arthur Road over Accotink Creek in the Camelot neighborhood in Annandale.
The reconstruction plan, first proposed in 2023, is expected to last nearly two years, said VDOT officials at a virtual public meeting on April 21. Work is expected to start in fall 2028.
A partial closure is estimated to take about 22 months, and the full closure would take 14 months.
The work would not heavily interfere with the Gerry Connolly Cross County Trail or the access point to the trail on King Arthur Road, VDOT says. However, there will be random closures lasting 15 to 30 minutes for public safety.​
The project is aimed at improving safety for drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians, while extending the life of the bridge.
The bridge deck slabs, supporting steel beams and bearings, pier caps, and column tops will be replaced. The existing sidewalk will be widened, and exposed concrete will be repaired.
During the full closure, traffic will be detoured 2.3 miles around the bridge on King Arthur Drive, Saxony Drive, Guinevere Drive, Woodburn Road, Frost Way, and Kay Court. The detour is expected to take six to eight minutes. A shuttle service will be provided for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Related story: VDOT to redo King Arthur Road Bridge
The total cost of the project is estimated at $13.17 million, which is more than $3.5 million above the initial estimate of $9.4 million announced in 2023. The project is funded by the federal and state governments.​
The King Arthur Road bridge was built in 1964, with the concrete deck overlay added in 1994. The beams were repainted in 1975. The asphalt deck overlay was installed, and the deck slab overhangs were repaired in 2024.
Julia Key, Annandale Today’s summer intern, is a student at Penn State University, where she is majoring in digital and print journalism.