The lighting dims on Falmouth Bridge, and waiting at the intersection of Courthouse and Woodland

Date published: 6/26/2006

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S NEAK A PEEK at VDOT's road conditions page before you leave the house for vacation, or even make a trip down Interstate 95. The state transportation agency provides up-to-date details on accidents, road work and lane closures, all plotted visually on the Virginia map. Check it out at virginiadot.org and click on "Road Conditions" under "Commuters & Travelers." If you see a red "I" for incident over your travel route, that's bad. Scroll your mouse over the "I" to learn what happened and how long it's expected to take to clear.

QEach time I travel across the Falmouth Bridge, I wonder what happened to the lights? It is a a dark and unsafe-looking place now that there is no lighting. Can someone explain why the lights are gone?

--Eileen Greene,

Fredericksburg

AThe Virginia Department of Transportation was doing a routine bridge inspection of Falmouth Bridge when it found the light poles had corroded. "It was deemed unsafe so we recommended the lights be removed," said VDOT spokeswoman Tina Bundy. It's up to the city of Fredericksburg to replace the lights and poles, Bundy said.

The city wants to put the lights back on the bridge, said Dave King, assistant director of public works. But there is no timeframe for doing so right now. Complicating the installation is the antiquated electrical wiring running along the bridge. That will have to be updated, too, King said, which will involve working with Dominion Virginia Power.

Stafford County and VDOT will also be involved in the process. The concrete pedestals that held the light poles in place will need to be repaired and reviewed by a bridge engineer.

"It's not as simple as on the street where you put a pole in the ground and put a light on it," King said.

QI would like to know why the light at the intersection of

Date published: 6/26/2006