06/13/2026
๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐บ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐น๐ถโโ๏ธ
The Fredericksburg City Council approved $1 million in funding to advance study, engineering and repair/replacement of the Rappahannock Canal bridges several years ago. This important community priority has been advancing over this past year and is currently in the comprehensive engineering analysis phase โ this work is ongoing.
Near term it has been determined that the ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐ฃ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฑ๐ด๐ฒ, ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐ฝ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ผ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐ง๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐น ๐๐ผ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐๐ฒ๐ป๐๐ฒ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ก๐ผ๐ฟ๐บ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป, has deteriorated to a point at which we have determined to ๐๐ฒ๐บ๐ฝ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ๐น๐ ๐ฐ๐น๐ผ๐๐ฒ it. This closure is out of an abundance of caution. To help maintain access to the Canal Trail during repair/construction, a temporary detour has been established via the Fall Hill Pedestrian Bridge (1,500 feet to the west) near the Fall Hill Avenue and Mary Washington Boulevard traffic circle. Directional signage is being posted to assist trail users.
As this work continues, staff and City consultants will identify options for next steps (repair/reconstruction or replacement) on all four pedestrian canal bridges. The goal is to quickly allocate resources to the most pressing bridge needs. Please be assured that City staff will update the community on this work at least quarterly moving forward. Updates will be posted to the Cityโs website at https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/ and alerts will be sent to the Cityโs Fredericksburg Alert list named โAll Parks and Recsโ and โTraffic Alerts.โ ๐https://member.everbridge.net/453003085611679/login/
The City is pleased to move forward with these much-needed upgrades. Additionally, vegetation clearing along the Canal trail is ongoing and lighting enhancements are in process. Lastly, the City of Fredericksburg continues to work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on a potential project that would lead to dredging, bank stabilization and improvements to the aeration system in the Canal. We are hopeful for an award of federal assistance in the coming year.
This project reflects City Councilโs ongoing commitment to investing in connected communities where neighbors interact regularly with the natural environment through our extensive network of trails and parks.
"Projects like this help ensure our trail network remains accessible, and enjoyable for years to come," said Jenny Casarotti, Director of Parks, Recreation and Events. "We appreciate the community's patience and support as we make these, and other improvements, throughout our Parks."
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ช๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐ฌ๐จ ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ง๐: https://www.fredericksburgva.gov/m/newsflash/home/detail/2205
