Deputy Hunter D. Reedy Memorial Bridge; designating as bridge on Adwolfe Rd., etc. over I-81.
Summary
SB1428 is a commemorative naming bill that designates the bridge on Adwolfe Road and U.S. Route 11/State Route 660 over Interstate 81 in Smyth County as the "Deputy Hunter D. Reedy Memorial Bridge." The measure directs the Virginia Department of Transportation to place and maintain appropriate markers reflecting the new honorary name. It also specifies that the designation does not alter any other existing or future designation for the bridge.
The bill does not change transportation policy, funding formulas, or roadway ownership; its effect is limited to an honorary designation and signage. As a result, it amends no substantive regulatory scheme and primarily affects VDOT’s administrative responsibilities for installing and maintaining memorial markers at the site.
Impact
SB1428 has a narrow impact on Virginia law by creating an honorary bridge designation in Smyth County and requiring the Department of Transportation to post and maintain markers for the memorial name. It does not change traffic rules, bridge maintenance obligations, or any other legal designation of the structure, and it leaves existing and future designations intact.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been received very positively and without controversy. It advanced unanimously through the Senate and House, including unanimous committee reports and floor passage votes, indicating broad bipartisan support for honoring Deputy Hunter D. Reedy with a memorial bridge designation.
Contention
There is no recorded substantive opposition or committee debate in the available materials. The only practical consideration raised by the bill text itself is the administrative task for VDOT to install and maintain signage, but the unanimous votes suggest no notable disagreement over cost, symbolism, or the location of the memorial designation.