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

DATE: TUESDAY, April 26, 1994                   TAG: 9404260120
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-1   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ENGINEERS PLAN REPAIRS TO BRIDGE

Transportation Department officials hope to know by today how long the span carrying U.S. 11 between Radford and Pulaski County will be closed.

"Good progress has been made in designing the repairs," said Dan Brugh, resident engineer for Montgomery, Pulaski and Giles counties. The repairs should cost less than $100,000, Brugh said last week.

The department hasn't decided whether to use an emergency bidding process or simply choose a contractor and get them to work, spokeswoman Laura Bullock said Monday.

"I do know we want to put somebody to work as soon as possible," she said.

Preliminary estimates put the closure at anywhere from a few weeks to two months. But engineers are seeking input from contractors and making sure materials needed for the repairs are available before announcing a more firm estimate, Bullock said.

Virginia's chief bridge engineer, Mal Kerley, has come from Richmond to work with the Salem District staff on the repairs, she said.

Inspectors and engineers found severe corrosion in a key expansion joint beneath the 48-year-old steel truss bridge during a Thursday inspection. With several steel plates at the joint rusted together, the bridge is unable to move incrementally to adjust to temperature and load changes, putting the entire interdependent structure at risk.

Those problems are limited to a key joint right above Berkley Williams Drive and others out over the river. Engineers say that with the repairs the bridge should have several more years of life before replacement or a major overhaul.

The closure has created a major headache for New River Valley commuters, and has put a burden on narrow winding rural roads being used as unofficial detours. It's also taken a toll on businesses in Fairlawn cut off from customers in Radford.

Memorial Bridge is closed to all motorized traffic but is open to pedestrians and bicyclists.

The Transportation Department has marked official detours with orange signs and flags. From Fairlawn, drivers should turn from U.S. 11 onto Virginia 114 and then take it to Christiansburg, pick up the U.S. 460 Bypass there and follow it until rejoining U.S. 11.

From elsewhere in Pulaski County and the Dublin area, take Interstate 81 north to Exit 109 for Virginia 177 to reach Radford. Southbound motorists leaving Radford will need to enter I-81 at Exit 105 from First Street (Virginia 232).