Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 06/20/1989
NRHP Listing Date 11/13/1989
NRHP Reference Number 89001903
The fifteen-foot-long Virginian Railway Underpass is an early demonstration of the use of reinforced concrete in favor of stone for arch bridge construction. By 1900, zealous proponents of more economical, easily-formed concrete ensured the material’s predominance for construction of highway bridges and short railway spans. The railway underpasses in Montgomery County are some of the earliest concrete works in the region and the only ones in the state to employ a horseshoe form. Why this particular profile was restricted to this area has not been determined, although with its wider footings this shape was probably stronger than a straight-sided arch. Extra support for this span was provided by angled concrete abutments on both sides. The Virginian Railway Underpass was built by the Bates and Rogers Construction Co. and completed in 1906. The arch now supports tracks of the Norfolk Southern system.
The Virginian Railway Underpass was listed in the registers under the Prehistoric and Historic Resources of Montgomery County MPD.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: June 8, 2022
