Henrico plans to replace bridges on historic Kanawha Canal with recent purchase

For $1, Henrico County recently purchased a five-mile stretch of the Kanawha Canal from railroad company CSX. The county intends to replace all four bridges on the 65-acre site.

County officials and CSX leaders celebrated the sale on Friday at the Roslyn Retreat Center, which sits just off of the historic canal. The canal system initially was proposed by George Washington in the 1700s to connect the James River to West Virginia’s Kanawha River and was completed in 1851 when it reached Botetourt County.

“This canal represents unity. It once unified what was considered the frontiers of Virginia with the economic and political center of Richmond,” said Henrico Recreation and Parks Division Director Julian Charity. “Once again, Henrico and the Kanawha Canal are unified together.”

All 65 acres of the area are privately owned, with about five riverfront properties sitting along the canal on an area known as “Westham Island,” which connects to the rest of Henrico County through the 75-foot Kanawha Canal Bridge. 

This past spring, several prominent families living on the private island enclave launched a $2 million lawsuit against CSX, arguing that the company failed to maintain the Kanawha Canal Bridge, neglecting the only major access route to their homes.

With the new purchase, Henrico officials say they plan to replace the bridge with prefabricated steel structures, and replace the other three bridges on the canal, over the next few years. Bridge improvements will give Westham residents access to the typical frontline ambulances used by Henrico Fire and EMS.

The agreement with CSX is something that county officials have been working on for several years, said Tuckahoe supervisor Jody Rogish, and the primary motive was to increase public safety for the canal-area residents.

“Because of this gift, those who need safe passage to and from their property will have improved access,” said Rogish. “CSX is great, they're a great partner, but vehicular bridges are not necessarily their specialty. They are in the train business, so that's why we originally started with making sure to take care of the residents that live on the other side.”

Another bridge on the canal, close to the Roslyn Retreat Center, is used by Henrico Fire and EMS on a weekly basis for both training and emergency operations as a launching point for swift water assets.

Costs for the bridge replacements were previously estimated by Henrico officials to be $4 million, but the county is currently in the process of updating cost projections.

Rogish also said that years down the line, there could be a possibility of recreational public access to the canal, although that would require permission from the private property owners.

“We continue [Henrico’s] long history of protecting people and property and preserving our history and our beautiful natural environment,” he said. “Who knows, we may be able to even provide some recreational access as part of this region's wonderful asset, the James River.”

Liana Hardy is the Citizen’s government and education reporter. Support her work and articles like this one by making a contribution to the Citizen.