Richmond's Texas Beach bridge rebuild nears long-awaited finish

The latest: Decking boards for the bridge and south tower are in the process of being laid, city parks spokesperson Tamara Jenkins tells Axios.

• The construction update was first reported by WWBT.
• And the entire project — which includes clearing the trail leading to it and rebuilding the bridge, its supports and stairs — is on schedule to wrap up by December.
• That's the deadline set through the $2 million in federal ARPA funding the city is using for the project.

Catch up quick: City officials closed the 50-year-old Texas Beach bridge in 2022 after finding it was structurally unsound.

• Repairs were supposed to begin immediately, with $2 million in federal funding already set aside.
• In 2023, city officials were still working on cost estimates and hoped to reopen the bridge by summer 2024.
• Work actually began in 2025.

What we're watching: Whether the city finishes the bridge sooner than expected. Like, summer 2026 sooner.