Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, October 11, 1993                   TAG: 9310110093
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AGING BRIDGES PUT ROANOKE IN A BIND

As they were raising the 100-year-old bridge by 3 1/2 feet, construction crews also repaired it, correcting all known defects.

But now the bridge might have to be closed again. A new inspection has found it needs more repairs to make certain it remains structurally sound.

Norfolk Southern Corp. paid the $200,000 cost of raising and repairing the bridge two years ago, but the city would have to pay for the new repairs.

The First Street bridge is just the latest example of how city officials are scrambling to repair aging bridges throughout the city.

Construction is in progress on four bridges, including the Fifth Street bridge which is in sight of First Street. Smaller bridges over river branches and creeks are being replaced on Craig Robertson Road and Shenandoah and Centre avenues.

The city has another half-dozen bridges that need to be repaired or replaced at an estimated cost of nearly $7 million.

Roanoke has 99 bridges over railroad tracks, creeks, branches and the Roanoke River.

The city's railroad tracks and river give Roanoke more bridges than similar-size cities, said William Clark, public works director.

The federal and state governments requires all bridges to be inspected annually to make sure they are safe. The required inspections were prompted by the collapse of several bridges throughout the country.

Clark said the recent inspection of all city bridges disclosed the need for repairs to the First Street structure.

The city plans to construct another bridge across the railroad tracks at Second Street as part of an inner-loop traffic plan, to compensate for closing part of the Hunter Viaduct.

After the Second Street bridge is finished, the fate of the First Street bridge will be in doubt. It might be closed, fully repaired or used only for pedestrian traffic.

Clark said the city will make minimal repairs in the interim to ensure safety and will put off a decision on its long-range fate.

Clark said the city is playing catch-up, trying to repair or replace several bridges at the same time.

"Maybe we need to give more thought to bridges and have a bridge-replacement fund in the budget every year," he said.

Besides First Street, the bridges needing repairs or replacement and the estimated cost:

Walnut Avenue over the Roanoke River: needs to be replaced because of the deterioration of the deck and abutments, $2 million.

Broadway Street over Ore Branch: repair wing walls and steelbeams, $287,000.

Hollins Road over Lick Run: needs immediate maintenance to upgrade the posted load limit, $482,080.

Ninth Street over Roanoke River: needs to be cleaned and painted, guardrails need to be installed, $310,631.

Jefferson Street over railroad tracks: the support for the deck needs repair, $585,500.

Main Street over Roanoke River and railroad tracks: structural steel in isolated areas needs repair and steel under the deck needs to be cleaned and painted, $800,000.

Williamson Road (Hunter Viaduct) over railroad tracks: removing the remainder of the viaduct leg, replace concrete deck and add a right-turn lane for access to Salem Avenue, $2.5 million.

Part of the Jefferson Street leg of the viaduct was taken down to build the Dominion Tower.