Nansemond River Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Nansemond River Bridge, officially the Mills E. Godwin Bridge, is located in the independent city
of Suffolk, Virginia
and carries U.S. Route 17
across the Nansemond River
.
The current bridge, opened in 1982, was named in honor of former Virginia governor Mills E. Godwin Jr.
, a prominent member of the Chuckatuck
community.
The 1982 structure replaced an earlier one built in 1928 by the James River Bridge Corporation as part of a three bridge system privately-funded to be paid for through toll revenues. The others were the original James River Bridge
and the Crittenden Bridge
(also known as the Chuckatuck Creek Bridge), each of which was also replaced with newer structures during the last quarter of the 20th century.
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
and carries U.S. Route 17
U.S. Route 17 in Virginia
U.S. Route 17 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Punta Gorda, Florida to Winchester, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the North Carolina state line in Chesapeake north to its northern terminus at US 11, US 50, and US 522 in Winchester. US 17 is a major highway...
across the Nansemond River
Nansemond River
The Nansemond River is a tributary of the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia. The Nansemond River Bridge crosses the river near its mouth. Both it and the former State Route 125 bridge, demolished in 2008, were once toll bridges. The river begins at the outlet of Lake Meade north of...
.
The current bridge, opened in 1982, was named in honor of former Virginia governor Mills E. Godwin Jr.
Mills E. Godwin Jr.
Mills Edwin Godwin, Jr. of Chuckatuck, Virginia, was an American politician who was the 60th and 62nd Governor of Virginia for two non-consecutive terms, from 1966 to 1970 and from 1974 to 1978....
, a prominent member of the Chuckatuck
Chuckatuck, Virginia
Chuckatuck is a neighborhood of the independent city of Suffolk, Virginia, United States. It is located at the junction of State Route 10/State Route 32 and State Route 125, just south of SR 10/32's crossing of Chuckatuck Creek. Its elevation is 36 feet above mean sea level...
community.
The 1982 structure replaced an earlier one built in 1928 by the James River Bridge Corporation as part of a three bridge system privately-funded to be paid for through toll revenues. The others were the original James River Bridge
James River Bridge
The James River Bridge is a four-lane divided highway lift bridge across the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia. Owned and operated by the Virginia Department of Transportation, it carries U.S. Route 17, U.S. Route 258, and State Route 32 across the river near its mouth at Hampton Roads...
and the Crittenden Bridge
Crittenden Bridge
The Crittenden Bridge, also known as the Chuckatuck Creek Bridge, is officially named The Sydney Hazelwood III Bridge after a prominent member of the Crittenden community. This bridge is part of U.S...
(also known as the Chuckatuck Creek Bridge), each of which was also replaced with newer structures during the last quarter of the 20th century.