RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Richmond’s iconic Boulevard Bridge celebrated its 100th anniversary with a community gathering and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
Officials temporarily closed the beloved bridge for its centennial celebration, drawing hundreds of community members to the event.
The event featured food, live music, and more.
The Boulevard Bridge, affectionately known to many as “The Nickel Bridge,” is a vital staple in the city.
The celebration served as a significant occasion for the community to come together and honor the bridge’s past, present, and future promise.
For 100 years, 10 decades, approximately 5,200 weeks, and more than 36,000 days, the historic Boulevard Bridge has stood as a cherished landmark, connecting the city.
“For a bridge to be still standing 100 years later and people run it, bike it, drive it everyday, it’s a good symbol for the city I think,” Cal Whitehead, of the Westover Hills Neighborhood Association, said.
The Westover Hills Neighborhood Association and the Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority (RMTA) collaborated to orchestrate the bridge’s birthday festivities.
The entire area was closed, transforming the bridge into a vibrant community hub. Attendees enjoyed music, food, and views of the James River.
Originally constructed in 1925, the Boulevard Bridge was designed to create a crucial link between Richmond’s northside and southside.
The milestone was capped off with the official unveiling of the Boulevard Bridge Centennial Plaque.
“We’re just so lucky to have it and now to have this commemorative plaque and be able to share that history with people and know that they’re walking or cycling through history is just really meaningful,” Richmond City Council Member Sarah Abubaker, 4th District, said.
The bridge’s popular nickname, “The Nickel Bridge,” makes a lot of “cents.”
“The toll used to be a nickel for a time. Now it’s multiple times a nickel, but we still stuck the name to it,” Whitehead said.
Joi Taylor Dean, CEO of the Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority, is committed to making sure that the team stays on top of inspections and monitoring the bridge.
For it to see another 100 years, they plan on keeping it that way.
“We intend to continue ensuring that this bridge is safe for all of those — our patrons who run across it, walk across it, bicycle across it and drive across it for many years to come,” Dean said.
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