Great Bridge Bridge
{{Short description|Drawbridge in Chesapeake, Virginia, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
File:BattleOfGreatBridge.jpg was fought at this crossing on December 9, 1775.]]
File:Great Bridge Bridge 2008.jpg
File:Great Bridge view Lossing.png
The Great Bridge Bridge is a double-leaf rolling bascule drawbridge that carries Battlefield Blvd (State Route 168 Business) across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in Chesapeake, Virginia. It was constructed in 2004 by the Army Corps of Engineers and operated by the City of Chesapeake. It has a mean daily traffic of 35,000 vehicles. The current bridge cost $46 million.
In September 2018 a lightning strike disable the bridge's electronics, requiring manual operation. Normally the bridge opens automatically, on the hour, from 6 am to 7 pm. Vessels can request an opening from 7 pm to 6 am.
Earlier bridges
On December 9, 1775, when the Battle of Great Bridge was fought, a bridge spanned the main channel of the Elizabeth River, in the middle of a broad marshy estuary. A raised causeway spanned the rest of the estuary.
A new bridge was built at Great Bridge, Virginia, in 1859, after the construction of Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal (which is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway).
During the American Civil War a bridge crossing at Great Bridge was destroyed.
A new two-lane swing bridge replaced the late 19th century bridge in 1943.
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite web
| url = http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Chesapeake/131-5333_Albemarle&Chesapeake_Canal_HD_2004_Final_Nomination.pdf
| title = National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal|author=Geoffrey Henry|date=July 2003
| publisher = Virginia Department of Historic Resources
| access-date = 2019-05-11
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170210214539/http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Cities/Chesapeake/131-5333_Albemarle%26Chesapeake_Canal_HD_2004_Final_Nomination.pdf
| archive-date= 2017-02-10
| url-status = dead
}}
{{cite news
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=ELBBAAAAYAAJ&q=%22great+bridge%22
| title = The Pictorial Field-book of the Revolution: Or, Illustrations, by Pen and Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence, Volume 1
| author = Benson John Lossing
| author-link = Benson John Lossing
| publisher = Harper & Brothers
| year = 1850
| page = 327
| isbn = 9780871520555
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2019-10-27
| quote =
}}
{{cite news
| url = https://www.nao.usace.army.mil/AIWW.aspx
| title = Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway
| publisher = US Army Corps of Engineers
| date = March 6, 2018
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2019-10-27
| quote =
}}
{{cite news
| url = https://wtkr.com/2018/09/09/great-bridge-bridge-expects-extended-closures-after-lightning-strike-causes-electrical-issues/
| title = Great Bridge bridge expects extended closures after lightning strike causes electrical issues
| work = WTKR
| date = September 9, 2018
| location = Chesapeake, Virginia
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2019-10-27
| quote = After being struck by lightning Saturday evening, electrical issues with the Great Bridge bridge will require the bridge to be opened manually.
}}
{{cite news
| url = https://www.pilotonline.com/history/article_c90142c4-fa9b-526f-8e1a-9399a7e3c7f7.html
| title = The history of the Great Bridge Bridge dates to at least 1770
| work = The Virginian-Pilot
| author = Raymond Harper
| date = March 11, 2018
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2019-10-27
| quote =
}}
{{cite web
| url = http://www.cityofchesapeake.net/Government/City-Departments/Departments/Public-Works-Department/Chesapeake-Bridges/bridges-greatbridge.htm
| title = Great Bridge Bridge (Battlefield Blvd)
| publisher = City of Chesapeake, Virginia
| archiveurl =
| archivedate =
| accessdate = 2012-06-15
| quote =
}}
}}
{{Water Crossings in the Hampton Roads Region}}
{{Coord|36|43|15.1|N|76|14|23.8|W|type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Road bridges in Virginia
Category:Bascule bridges in the United States