The second stakeholders meeting on the rehabilitation of the historic John G. Lewis Memorial Bridge, which spans Catoctin Creek on Featherbed Lane, takes place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 23, at the Old School Auditorium in Waterford.

The one-lane bridge was built in 1889 and is a rare surviving example of a wrought iron truss bridge—one of only five still standing bridges built by the Variety Iron Company. It is located on part of the unique and historic network of unpaved rural roads in Loudoun. The bridge is also an important contributor to the local region’s historic significance which, in turn, supports an active tourist economy.

The Virginia Department of Transportation held the first Section 106 meeting concerning alternatives for repairing the bridge early this spring, with a presentation of various options–including a new, two-lane bridge adjacent to the current structure with a new roadbed, and several options for repairing the current structure.

The Loudoun County Preservation and Conservation Coalition submitted a stakeholder letter in May advocating for repairs that do not affect the bridge’s status on the National Register, do not reconfigure the approach road in a major way, and retain the bridge’s historic integrity and configuration.

We encourage your attendance at this meeting. Contact David Nelson, 703-989-8072, if you would like more information. And you also can read earlier posts on this issue in the Rural Bridges section.