PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: April 19, 2007
Contact: Abigail Shilling (202) 225-6365

Washington, D.C. – Congressman J. Randy Forbes (VA-04) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives has authorized $37.2 million for the replacement of the Deep Creek Bridge in Chesapeake, as part of H.R. 1495, the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 (WRDA). WRDA is a bill dedicated exclusively to authorizing the activities of the Army Corps of Engineers, which studies water issues, and designs, constructs and maintains water resources facilities across the country.

“The current bridge at Deep Creek serves as a major link within the City of Chesapeake and often becomes clogged with commuter traffic, causing major delays affecting both families and businesses,” said Forbes. “Replacement of the Deep Creek Bridge will ease the major traffic congestion in the area and enhance public safety. I am pleased by the inclusion of this project in the House version of the bill, and I am hopeful that the two bodies of Congress will work together to pass this vital legislation.”

Congressman Forbes has been actively seeking authorization for this project for several years. Forbes recently authored a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee explaining the importance of the inclusion of the Deep Creek Bridge authorization in this year’s WRDA bill.

Deep Creek Bridge is a two-lane bridge which crosses the Dismal Swamp Canal at U.S. Route 17 Business. The 73-year-old bridge is a vital connector within the City of Chesapeake and is in need of replacement. This authorization allows the Army Corps of Engineers to construct a replacement bridge to help ease the significant traffic congestion on U.S. Route 17 Business between Southern Chesapeake and North Carolina.

The Senate is expected to consider their version of WRDA in the coming months. If passed in the Senate, the House and Senate will meet in conference committee to settle any differences between their respective versions of the WRDA bill. After completion of the conference committee, the bill will be sent to the President to be signed into law. Authorization is the first step in a two-part process to secure federal funding. The formal process first consists of the enactment of an authorization measure that creates or continues an agency or program; and second, the enactment of appropriations to provide funds for the authorized agency or program.

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