RICHMOND, Va. -- The City of Richmond has closed the pedestrian bridge that leads to the Texas Beach portion of the James River following an inspection of the bridge.
"The pedestrian bridge that leads to Texas Beach was found to be structurally unsafe for public use," a statement from the city read. "This bridge will be closed effective immediately."
Workers at the pedestrian bridge on Friday said that the bridge had to be torn down and rebuilt.
Heads up, RVA! The pedestrian bridge to Texas Beach is 🚨 CLOSED 🚨. Only one sign right now. People still crossing on it. I’m told the entrances will be boarded up soon. James River Parks folks say the bridge will need to be DEMOLISHED and replaced. @CBS6 @rvaparksandrec pic.twitter.com/Cy944mDoVl
— Chris Jenkins (@JenkinsRVA) September 2, 2022
"Visitors to the area will be able to access the James River shore by taking the North Bank Trail east towards downtown until further notice," the statement continued.
"[Texas Beach is] one of the safest access points to the James River. Calm water and shallow rapids make it perfect for swimming, wading, and even snorkeling," a description of the area on the Friends of the James River Park website read. "Along with a section of wooden boardwalk over a wetland section of trail, you’ll find many isolated sandy beaches, sunbathing rocks and shady spots to enjoy."
The city officials shared this series of FAQ regarding the bridge situation:
Q: Why is the bridge closed?
A: On September 1, a bridge inspection team from Timmons Group initiated a Bridge Safety Inspection of the pedestrian truss bridge providing access to Texas Beach at North Bank Park. During this inspection, severe structural damage was observed. The damage observed could potentially result in a bridge collapse.
Q: Can I still get to Texas Beach?
A: Unfortunately, there are no other public access points to Texas Beach at this time.
Q: When is the bridge going to be fixed?
A: The City is assessing options for repair and/or replacement of the bridge. Fortunately, funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding were requested to address this bridge.
Q: Can I still get to the river from Texas Beach Parking Lot?
A: No. However, the North Bank Trail is still open in full. If you're up for a mile and half hike, you can take North Bank Trail east towards downtown to Belle Isle and Brown's Island.
Q: Where are other places that I can access the James River?
A: The James River can still be accessed at locations such as Pony Pasture, Reedy Creek, Anncarrows Landing, the Wetlands, Great Shiplock Park, or Belle Isle.
Q: When was the pedestrian bridge built and how long is it?
A: The pedestrian bridge is 75 yards long (225 feet). The bridge was constructed between 1970 and 1971.
Q: Is there a timeline for how long the work will take?
A: The City is the early stages of determining what needs to be done. We do not know what a timeline will look like until more assessment is done by our structural engineers.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said city officials told CBS 6 the bridge would have to be torn down and rebuilt.
This is a developing story, so anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip.
