BUCKINGHAM — The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has awarded a $6.6 million contract for the replacement of the Route 20 Bridge over the Slate River in Buckingham County.

According to a VDOT press release, the contract was awarded to Allegheny Construction Co. in Roanoke.

“This project will replace the narrow bridge with a structure that will be wider and will meet current design standards,” the release states. “The new structure will be built on new alignment, allowing the existing bridge to be used during construction and to avoid additional impacts to motorists.”

VDOT says the existing bridge is structurally deficient “and has a sufficiency rating of 47.9 out of 100. The current structure is 25.26-feet wide and 354-feet long and is posted as a narrow bridge.”

The new bridge will be constructed to the northwest of the current bridge. It will be approximately 360 feet long and 47 feet wide.

During construction the existing bridge will be in use to reduce impacts to motorists, according to VDOT.

Work is set to begin by January. The project is scheduled for completion by Nov. 2, 2017.