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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 10, 1993                   TAG: 9306100099
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: STEVE KARK CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PEMBROKE                                LENGTH: Medium

PLANS SET FOR NEW PEMBROKE BRIDGE

Although no historic preservation group, state or otherwise, has shown an interest in accepting ownership of the old bridge near Pembroke, it finally looks as though plans for the new bridge will move along without a hitch.

The old bridge for Virginia 623 crosses the New River just south of the town.

The project to build a new bridge had been delayed while the Virginia Department of Historic Resources deliberated whether to preserve the old bridge as one of the few remaining steel-span bridges left in the state.

There will, however, be no more delays.

During a Department of Transportation hearing this week, John Kern, regional director for the historic resources department, said construction of the new bridge was not dependent on the status of the old bridge.

Kern's department is still considering ways to preserve the steel-span structure.

That was good news to Pembroke Mayor W.D. Martin, who said the community has been concerned about the project.

He urged the highway department to proceed with the new bridge.

Giles Supervisor Larry J. Williams said he was "tickled to death" that the project finally seems to be moving along.

Randi Lemmon of the newly formed National Committee for the New River said that while he "would like to see the old bridge preserved and owned by historic resources," he strongly supports the new bridge and its speedy design and construction.

Lemmon said he thought the site had great potential.

His group is working with the Department of Landscape Architecture at Virginia Tech to develop plans for a town park and boat landing to be built nearby.

Bill Richardson, a Blacksburg resident who favors saving the old bridge, said he hoped the department of transportation would design the new bridge to minimalize obstructions of the view in that part of the river.

Most of the 50 or so town and county residents gathered at the Pembroke Volunteer Fire Department's activity building seemed content with what they heard at the hearing and had neither questions nor comments for highway officials.

Only one, Lynn Sharp, asked if other steel-span bridges are being preserved elsewhere in the state.

Highway officials said they knew of several, including one that crosses the New River in Grayson County. Plans are for that bridge to remain in use, they said.

The project should advertise for construction by spring of next year.

Its estimated completion date is in the winter of 1995.

by CNB