Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 22, 1994 TAG: 9404220207
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MICHAEL STOWE STAFF WRITER Note: above
DATELINE: FAIRLAWN LENGTH: Medium
Dan Brugh, resident engineer with the Virginia Department of Transportation, said he's unsure how long the bridge, one of only two that cross the New River into Radford, will remain closed.
Highway engineers will attempt to temporarily stabilize the structure this week, but if that doesn't work the bridge could be out of service for several months.
"It's a pretty crucial link," Brugh said.
That's putting it lightly.
On average, 27,000 cars cross Memorial Bridge each day, Radford City Manager Bob Asbury said. The city's population is just over 16,000, and many of them use the bridge on their daily commute to work.
"That illustrates the magnitude of the problem," Asbury said. "We're talking about a terrible inconvenience." The city manager is also concerned that an extended delay could cripple some of Radford's restaurants and businesses.
"It almost cuts off all travel," he said.
There is no good time for such an important bridge to be closed, but "this couldn't have happened at a worse time" Brugh said.
He was alluding to the fact that Interstate 81 exit 105, one of two exits leading to Radford, has been closed for several weeks for repairs to the deck of another bridge.
That leaves motorists wanting to travel from Pulaski to Radford two main options: Interstate 81, which has the only other bridge linking city and county, or back through Christiansburg using Peppers Ferry Road, U.S. 460 and U.S.11.
Either way, motorists may have delays of 15 to 45 minutes, depending on the traffic.
Allen Williams, maintenance engineer for VDOT's Salem District, said the rusty part under the bridge was noticed Wednesday during a routine annual inspection. Further tests Thursday revealed that the bridge was in danger of collapsing.
"This was serious; we just don't do these thing on a whim," said Laura Bullock, a spokesperson for the Transportation Department.
Memorial Bridge, which overlooks Bisset Park as well as the river, was built in 1946.
Williams said the nearly-50-year-old bridge already was due for some major renovations, but that the badly worn steel was a surprise.
"We knew it needed some work, but we just didn't know that particular connection was so bad," he said. "When we looked at it last year the deterioration was not there."
He explained that it doesn't take long for a steel support structure to break once it starts to decay.
"It accelerates quickly," he said. "Much like a cockroach eating through wood."
The maintenance engineer said the entire bridge could have collapsed even if only a few parts of the support structure broke.
Williams credited the yearly inspection program with averting a disaster. "That's why we do it annually, so we can catch these things," he said.
He wouldn't hazard a guess as to how long the bridge will remain closed.
A team of engineers will examine the problem today and figure out the best solution.
Andy Cochrane, an executive at Radford Community Hospital, said he was concerned, but not alarmed about the bridge's closing.
All of the local rescue squads and other emergency agencies were immediately notified of the problem, so they could plan alternate routes.
Radford Mayor Tom Starnes said the closed bridge was unfortunate, but that he's just happy no one was hurt. "Public safety has to come first," he said.
That seemed to be little consolation to the dozens of cars caught in the huge traffic jam moments after VDOT trucks and state police cars blocked the bridge during rush hour.
Traffic around the bridge was scarce an hour later, as VDOT workers began directing motorists to alternate routes.
Memorial Bridge isn't the first bridge VDOT has abruptly closed during an inspection, Williams said, but it could well be the most vital one to a community.
Memo: shorter version ran in the Metro edition.