Virginian Railway Underpass
Also known as: 60-573
Why it's listed
Where Virginia Route 723 meets the railway bed at the village of New Ellett, in the North Fork Valley, the road passes through a small concrete underpass built in 1906. A metal date plate set into the wall names the builder as Bates and Rogers Construction Company. The structure is a single poured-concrete barrel fifteen feet long and 14 feet 6 inches wide at ground level, with 12 feet 9 inches of headroom. Below the springing point of the arch the side walls curve inward, producing a horseshoe profile, and angled concrete abutments support the arch. The road here is a single lane about twelve feet wide. Its listing rests on engineering significance. A state survey of concrete and masonry arch bridges found horseshoe-shaped railroad underpasses only in Montgomery County. This one was rated the most prominent of them and scored among the highest in the twelve-county Salem district, outside three elaborate city bridges, for integrity, documented builder, early date and unusual form.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the underpass is the most prominent of several horseshoe-form concrete bridges found only in Montgomery County, a shape not seen elsewhere in Virginia. It scored 21 of 35 points in a state survey of concrete arch bridges, earning high marks for integrity, documented builder, early date, material and unusual form. It illustrates regional diversity in Virginia arch types.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001903, listed November 13, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Jct. of Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks and VA 723, S of New Ellett, New Ellett |
|---|---|
| County | Montgomery County |
| Listed | November 13, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001903 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1906 |
| Architect / builder | Bates and Rogers Construction Company |
| Architectural style | Concrete horseshoe-arch underpass |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still carries road traffic beneath an active railway line (historic and current functions listed as road-related and rail-related transportation). |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.19954, -80.36402 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001903.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14713461
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.