THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 27, 1995 TAG: 9510270504
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KAREN JOLLY DAVIS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHINCOTEAGUE LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Skeptical Chincoteague islanders have been assured by two legislators that their fears and doubts about state plans for a new bridge to the mainland will be made known in Richmond.
State Sen. Tommy Norment of Williamsburg and Del. Bob Bloxom of Parksley met Wednesday night with island residents. Each said he had received more than 400 postcards from Chincoteague opposing the bridge proposals.
The lawmakers promised to monitor the Virginia Department of Transportation, and to highlight the islanders' needs and concerns to the department.
`We'll stay on top of it,'' said Norment. ``I think you collectively will have a tremendous impact on the decision.''
Graham Dill, president of the island's Chamber of Commerce, said: ``We're very concerned about our small town businesses, our small town feeling.'' He said 200 businesses represented by the chamber were ``vehemently opposed'' to a tall bridge ending on Maddox Boulevard, the road leading to Assateague's beaches.
Norment insisted that the islanders will be heard by state decision makers.
``In my humble opinion, this ain't a done deal,'' said Norment. Will Cumming, VDOT resident engineer for the Eastern Shore, echoed Norment's sentiments.
``Nothing is set in concrete,'' said Cumming.
VDOT has proposed three locations for a new bridge. One would extend a high-rise span over 1,500 feet of Maddox Boulevard, wiping out homes and businesses. Another would take a high-rise bridge to the southern portion of the island, right across the island's prized sunset view.
A third option would replace the existing downtown bridge in approximately the same location. In a straw poll taken on the island last week, 289 of 319 people favored the third option, called the downtown bridge.
``Let's not ruin the fabric of the town,'' pleaded island resident Robert Nordstrom, who favored the downtown bridge.
Shop owners worry that diversion of traffic from downtown will harm their businesses. Several people with businesses along Maddox Boulevard said they could not relocate in a place with similar zoning, because other such locations don't exist on the island. They said VDOT's proposed compensation rate for displaced businesses is far too low.
Most of the people at the meeting wanted a new bridge in the same place as the span that now brings traffic to the island. VDOT officials say that can't be done.
``How is it possible that the old bridge can't be replaced?'' asked islander Jerry West. He said putting a bridge in the same spot would be the least intrusive option. ``What's the big deal? It's not that difficult to engineer something like that.''
The island's current bridge swings open to allow tall boats through Chincoteague Channel, part of the Intercoastal Waterway. But movable bridges are more expensive to build and maintain than fixed spans, say VDOT officials. Currently, the transportation department spends $114,000 a year just manning the bridge.
At Wednesday's meeting, Fred Tolbert suggested that one solution may be to replace the movable bridge with another like it, but restrict opening hours to cut down costs. Norment said he would take that idea to the state Transportation Board. by CNB