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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 3, 1994                   TAG: 9402030181
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DETERIORATION CAUSES LOWER WEIGHT LIMITS ON WALNUT BRIDGE

Roanoke has reduced the weight limit on the Walnut Avenue bridge over the Roanoke River after an annual inspection found the bridge vibrates under heavy loads.

The limit has been reduced from 10 to 8 tons, which restricts use of the bridge for heavy trucks and buses.

"This is a precautionary step to help reduce any further deterioration on the bridge," said William Clark, city public works director.

"We have completed preliminary design on a new bridge and will soon move ahead into complete design," he said.

Replacing the bridge, built in 1890, will cost an estimated $1.1 million.

Clark said businesses with heavy commercial vehicles that may have used the bridge in the past will need to find alternative routes.

"Fortunately, this is a bridge that is not widely used by heavy truck traffic, so we hope the impact will be minimal," he said.

Walnut Avenue is the main artery to Mill Mountain, but most traffic is cars, vans and small trucks.

There are two bridges on Walnut: one spans the river, and the other spans Norfolk Southern railway tracks. The bridge over the railroad tracks was renovated several years ago. The weight limit has been reduced for the river bridge.