Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 30, 1994 TAG: 9405020143
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The couple plans to be married in September, but ever since the Memorial Bridge was closed, they say it is hard to even get a date with each other.
"It hasn't stopped us from seeing one another," Graham said, "but it sure has slowed down our dating."
Phillips lives on the New River, about two minutes from the bridge. Graham lives in Radford, at the top of a steep hill overlooking the city. Normally, the two can see each other within minutes by driving a mile-and-a-half to one home or the other. Now Phillips parks at one end of the bridge, Graham at the other, and they ride their bicycles to meet each other.
"This feels so stupid, kissing him on the bridge then watching him ride off into the sunset," Graham said, laughing.
Both Graham and Phillips work at St. Albans, she as the horticulturist; he in the maintenance department. While getting to work is still a cinch for Phillips, Graham must drive her truck to the Radford Parks and Recreation building, park , and ride across the bridge on her bicycle. Phillips now rides his bike across to meet her.
"She was a little nervous about riding across by herself," he said.
Graham said she and her fiance now spend more time planning how they will see each other, rather than actually seeing each other. But it makes for a more enjoyable date, she said. Last weekend, they met via bicycle and decided to spend the rest of the day riding around the city and down near Bisset Park.
"It turned out to be a great day," she said.
Phillips' daughter, Tanya, who attends Radford University, is in the same boat - or at least wishes she had one to get her across the river to see her fiance, Heath Young, 24, who lives in Radford. The couple plan to be married in July, and they, too, haven't let the bridge "burn" their love.
"Well, [Young] has started parking his car and walking across the bridge to my house," she said. "It hasn't been too bad on the weekends, but it's really cut down on how much we see each other during the week."
Tanya Phillips, 21, said a drive to Young's house via the bridge is four miles. The shortest alternative is 23 miles. Although she said it would be nice to be able to use the bridge again, "it's not really frustrating because at least I'm getting out and I enjoy the walks."
Graham said the foursome often joke about how they should just meet halfway on the bridge and have one big wedding.
Things could be worse. Graham and Phillips said it must be a nightmare for those people who work at Radford Community Hospital, but take their young children to the joint day-care center run by Carilion Health Services located at St. Albans - across the bridge.
Although the closing of Memorial Bridge has inconvenienced many people, and local businesses say they are suffering, Graham and Phillips look at the bright side of things.
"I've noticed that everybody speaks to everybody on the bridge," Graham said. "It used to be we would just zoom by in our cars. Now everybody takes time to talk to each other and that is really nice."
by CNB