THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, July 19, 1994 TAG: 9407190369
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF HOOTEN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
We miss our bridge, and we want it back.
That was the message from South Norfolk residents who met with city officials Monday night to discuss the fate of the broken-down Jordan Bridge.
``Without a bridge across the river, South Norfolk will be in a pocket forever,'' Pauline Dennis told an audience that included Mayor William E. Ward, Del. Lionell Spruill Sr., and state Sens. Mark Earley, Yvonne Miller and Fred Quayle.
``This bridge is definitely needed,'' said James W. Bryant Jr., president of the 64-member South Norfolk Business Consortium. ``We've got to have traffic for retail businesses to survive . . . to help stimulate the economy of South Norfolk.''
But Chesapeake officials say the city has no money set aside to repair the 66-year-old span and needs state and federal funds to replace it.
The Jordan Bridge has remained closed to street traffic since May 10 because of a malfunctioning pulley. The drawbridge was left in the open position to allow ships on the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River to pass underneath.
Public Works Director John O'Connor estimated that fixing the immediate problem would cost $400,000. Keeping the bridge operating for the next five years would cost the city an additional $2 million, he said.
``Right now, there's is nothing funded, and there's no money in the Jordan Bridge account to pay for repairs,'' O'Connor said in an interview. ``We're looking for help from other sources. It could be federal money, it could be state money, it could be defense money - there's a major shipyard at the other end of the bridge.''
O'Connor told the gathering that ideally the city would like to replace the bridge with a high-rise, fixed span that would have five lanes and a 145-foot clearance. But it would also have a hefty price tag: $83 million.
The more than 150 residents who showed up at Rena B. Elementary School in South Norfolk were unanimous in their support for the bridge.
``If we need to pass the cup and beg to get the money for this bridge,'' Thelma Lee Taylor said, ``I'm ready to start right now.'' by CNB