July 29, 1965 — Construction on the State Route 629 concrete bridge over the Hawksbill Creek, south of Luray, moved along rapidly Friday and Saturday of last week.
Fifteen reinforced concrete beams were hauled here Friday and placed on the abutments five-abreast. The beams are 61-1/2 feet long and weigh 20 tons each.
Gilbert Campbell, of Luray, one of the State Highway inspectors on the job, said the beams cost $1,000 each.
They were made and installed by Crider and Shockey of Winchester, who are sub-contractors for the bridge.
Two large cranes were brought to the site to place the beams on the piers. A concrete slab will be poured over the beams which will provide a roadway 26.8 feet wide and 183.2 feet long, according to Campbell.
State Road 629 is being rebuilt from U.S. 340 near the J.M. Grove farm to the northwest corner of the woods of Mount Zion Church of the Brethren, a distance of .84 miles.
Completion of the project is expected the first week in September.
~ From the public archives of the Page News and Courier
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