NEWPORT NEWS—Newport News residents are invited to attend a public meeting about the Lions Bridge Dam Improvement project and activities that may impact motorists and pedestrians during the construction process. The meeting will be held at 6pm on Thursday, April 21 at The Mariners’ Museum, which is located at 100 Museum Dr. in Newport News.
The dam at Mariners’ Lake was built in the 1930s before dam safety regulations were in place. Several changes are required to bring the dam into compliance with current regulations, including armoring the entire downstream embankment to protect the dam from failure during overtopping; rehabilitation of the primary outfall culverts; and reconstruction of the low-level inlet structure to control the lake level and discharge from the lake. Additionally, the toe of the dam will be stabilized against wave action from the James River.
The project is set to begin in the winter of 2023 and will take approximately one year to complete. During construction, the roadway will remain open with one lane of traffic in each direction. The Noland Trail will remain open throughout the project and pedestrians will still have access to the bridge. However, parking at the bridge will not be available during the construction phase.
For questions about the meeting, Newport News residents can call the City’s 311 Center at 757-933-2311.