US Bridges

Lowesville Road over Piney River

Fair

Nelson County, Virginia · 0.00-NEL Cl / 0.00-AMH Cl · Structure no. 000000000001553

Built
1931
94 years old
Condition
Fair
inspected January 2024
Type
Tee Beam
Concrete
Length
128 ft
3 main spans
Daily traffic
752
2022 count
Owner
State
State Highway Agency

About this bridge

Lowesville Road over Piney River is a concrete tee beam carrying Lowesville Road over Piney River in Nelson County, Virginia. It was built in 1931, so it is 94 years old, older than the Virginia average of 50.7 years.

The most recent inspection reported to the Federal Highway Administration rates it in fair condition with a lowest component rating of 6 out of 9. The lowest-rated primary component is rated 5 or 6. Minor deterioration is present but the structure is sound.

It carries about 752 vehicles a day, projected to reach 838 by 2042. The structure is 128 ft (38.9 m) long and 26 ft wide. If it were closed, the detour would be 6.8 mi (11 km).

Location

Open in Google Maps
CarriesLowesville Road
CrossesPiney River
Location0.00-NEL Cl / 0.00-AMH Cl
RouteCounty Highway 778
CountyNelson County
StateVirginia
Coordinates37.71893, -79.06709
Functional classRural Minor Collector

Condition and inspection

Fair

The lowest-rated primary component is rated 5 or 6. Minor deterioration is present but the structure is sound.

ComponentRatingMeaning
Deck6 SatisfactoryStructural elements show some minor deterioration.
Superstructure6 SatisfactoryStructural elements show some minor deterioration.
Substructure6 SatisfactoryStructural elements show some minor deterioration.
Channel and channel protection6 SatisfactoryStructural elements show some minor deterioration.
Last inspectionJanuary 2024
Inspection intervalevery 24 months
Operating statusOpen, no restriction
ScourFoundations stable; scour within limits of footing or piles
Structural evaluation6: Equal to present minimum criteria
Deck geometry4: Meets minimum tolerable limits to be left in place as is
Waterway adequacy5: Somewhat better than minimum adequacy to tolerate being left in place as is
Approach roadway alignment3: Basically intolerable, requiring high priority of corrective action
Operating rating47 US tons
Inventory rating36 US tons

Structure

Structure typeTee Beam
MaterialConcrete
DeckConcrete, cast-in-place
Main spans3
Design loadUnknown
Structure length128 ft (38.9 m)
Longest span43 ft (13 m)
Deck width26 ft (7.9 m)
Roadway width23 ft (7 m)
Vertical clearance over deckUnrestricted

Traffic and service

Average daily traffic752 (2022)
Projected traffic838 by 2042
Trucks0%
Lanes on structure2
Traffic directionTwo-way traffic
CarriesHighway
CrossesWaterway
Detour if closed6.8 mi (11 km)
TollOn a free road
National Highway SystemNo

Ownership and planned work

OwnerState Highway Agency
Maintained byState Highway Agency
Historic statusNot eligible for the National Register of Historic Places
Work proposedReplacement because of substandard load-carrying capacity or roadway geometry
Estimated improvement cost$711 million
NavigationNo navigation control on waterway

Frequently asked questions

When was Lowesville Road over Piney River built?

It was built in 1931, making it 94 years old in 2025.

What condition is Lowesville Road over Piney River in?

The National Bridge Inventory rates it in fair condition. The lowest-rated primary component is rated 5 or 6. Minor deterioration is present but the structure is sound. The last reported inspection was in January 2024.

How much traffic does Lowesville Road over Piney River carry?

About 752 vehicles per day (2022 count).

How long is Lowesville Road over Piney River?

The structure is 128 ft (38.9 m) long with a longest span of 43 ft (13 m) and a deck 26 ft wide.

Who owns Lowesville Road over Piney River?

It is owned by the State Highway Agency.