The Waterloo Bridge is a valuable piece of the history of Culpeper and Fauquier Counties that was closed to traffic by the Virginia Department of Transportation due to safety concerns in early 2014.

Known for its distinctive iron and steel Pratt through-truss, the bridge spans the Rappahannock River and links Waterloo and Old Bridge roads in Culpeper to Jeffersonton Road in Fauquier. The bridge’s history is deeply entwined with its setting — beginning as a link to a bustling canal town with stores, residences, and a mill before becoming a pivotal river crossing during the Civil War — and demonstrates the region’s connections to advances in transportation and economic and industrial development. Built in 1878, it was the oldest metal truss bridge still in service in Virginia, before it closed.

To learn more and sign a petition, take action on the Piedmont Environmental Council Website.