THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409230516
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CINDY CLAYTON, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
In the past 27 years, key bridges in this part of Virginia and on the North Carolina Outer Banks have taken 10 hits, including the pummeling Thursday of the Monitor-Merrimac Memorial Bridge-Tunnel. Here's a look at the other nine incidents:
Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, to Hatteras Island, N.C., over Oregon Inlet:
A northeaster on Oct. 26, 1990, with gusts of up to 90 mph caused the 200-foot dredge barge Northerly Island to pull away from its moorings and knock a 370-foot section out of the bridge. The repair cost: $2.6 million.
The section collapsed on underwater utility cables, knocking out power and telephone service to an estimated 5,000 residents and tourists on the island.
The George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge, Yorktown:
In April 1974, the Navy destroyer DuPont scraped the double swing-span bridge with its mast as it made her way to the Yorktown Naval Weapons Station. No damage estimate was available.
On the afternoon of Dec. 13, 1975, the guided-missile cruiser Albany hit the bridge while heading toward the weapons station. Damage to the ship was minor, but the bridge was stuck in an open position for about 12 hours. Damage to the bridge was estimated at close to $40,000.
Nearly 18 years later, the Navy barge Empress II, designed to simulate nuclear explosions, struck the bridge, forcing it to remain open for about four hours. As the barge passed through the swing-spans, its antenna hit the bridge's southern span, knocking over a railing, lamp pole, flagpole and the bridge's radio antenna. Four workers were stranded on the bridge until a Navy boat rescued them.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel:
On Nov. 3, 1966, the Navy tank landing ship Churchill County was swept against the bridge by high winds. Little damage was recorded to the ship or the 17.6-mile crossing.
Four months later, on March 16, 1967, the 215-foot barge NL5 broke from the tug Prince and crashed into the bridge. Wind gusts were estimated at up to 50 miles per hour. Damage estimates were recorded at $200,000.
On Dec. 3, 1967, the 310-foot barge Mohawk parted its anchor at Little Creek and smashed into the bridge repeatedly until it ran aground in Virginia Beach, nestled against the south end of the bridge. The estimated damage was $1.1 million. The bridge was closed for two weeks.
The Navy cargo ship Yancey, pushed by the wind, smashed through the Bay Bridge on Jan. 20, 1970, closing the span for a month. About 400 feet of the bridge dropped into the Chesapeake Bay. Damage to the ship was minimal, but damage to the bridge was estimated at $1.7 million.
On Sept. 21, 1972, 60 feet of the bridge collapsed into the Bay after being hit by a barge. The tug Carolyn, pulling the barge, ran aground about 2,000 yards east of the span. The barge broke away and hit the bridge repeatedly, about 20 yards off the shore next to Chesapeake Beach.
A second barge being pulled by the Carolyn sank near the South Island fishing pier. The bridge was closed for nearly two months.
KEYWORDS: STORMS BRIDGES BARGES by CNB