By Nina Napolitano

Special to the News-Herald

The Virginia Department of Transportation, Isle of Wight County and residents of Carrsville celebrated the early completion of the Carrsville Community Memorial Bridge with a recent ceremony.

VDOT Deputy District Administrator Pete Reilly and Isle of Wight County Administrator Randy Keaton and IW Board of Supervisors member Rudolph Jefferson, addressed the crowd at the Carrsville Volunteer Fire Department, which is located near the new bridge on Carrsville Highway (Business 58.)

The community was heavily involved in naming the bridge. County residents Hilda Harmon and Maryland Roberts petitioned the Board of Supervisors, and in May, the Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the county’s resolution to name the span the “Carrsville Community Memorial Bridge.”

Locals say the title honors the dedication of citizens to their community.

The original Carrsville Highway Bridge was built in 1936. After 80 years, VDOT needed to replace the bridge to ensure safe future passage over the CSX railroad tracks and Old Myrtle Road.

Construction on the $6.7-million project started in March 2016. VDOT’s rural construction team and Bryant Contracting Inc. completed the bridge three months ahead of the scheduled Nov. 22 completion date.