THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 8, 1995 TAG: 9501080072
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Short : 28 lines
For seven hours Saturday, the twin bridges over the Pasquotank River, on U.S. Route 158 east to the Outer Banks and Hampton Roads, were stuck in the open position, causing a 30-mile detour for hundreds of motorists.
An electrical malfunction locked the two bridges in the up position when the bridge tender opened for a passing boat at 8:30 a.m., said James M. Edwards, an emergency dispatcher in Elizabeth City.
``It wasn't weather-related.''
Transportation Department engineers had the two bridges down - and traffic moving - by about 3:30p.m.
While the bridges were up, motorists heading for Camden, Currituck and Dare Counties had to drive north on U.S. Route 17 and cross the Pasquotank River at South Mills to reach Route 158 east to the Outer Banks, or U.S. Route 34 or N.C. Route 168 north to Norfolk.
``Depending on where you were going, it was about a 30-mile detour,'' said Edwards. by CNB