THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 6, 1995 TAG: 9512060425
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
After nearly two months of repairs, the lift span of the once-ailing Jordan Bridge was slowly returned to its roost on Tuesday.
And as workers methodically winched it into place on a cold and breezy morning, the bridge returned stronger - replete with new steel supports, a new electrical system and a projected reopening date of Dec. 15.
The repairs are expected to add five more years of life to the 67-year-old bridge, according to city officials. Bridge employees and construction officials, however, believe the span could outlive that prediction.
``I was surprised at what good shape it was in,'' said Tom Felch, vice president of Williams and Beasley Co., general contractor for the repairs. ``The city is being a little conservative in their prediction, but they have the public's safety to consider.''
Tuesday's job was almost a repeat of Oct. 11, when the lift span was slowly winched away from the fixed sections with only 3 inches of clearance. The 600-ton lift span, resting atop steel girders attached to a barge, was then floated to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard for repairs.
The span was removed for repairs so boat traffic could continue using the Intracoastal Waterway via the Southern Branch of the Elizabeth River.
Four of the bridge's main support beams were also repaired. Drains were created to prevent future rusting. And the bridge's old electrical system, which didn't always turn on the aircraft warning lights or lower the hazard gates, was replaced.
Work to reattach the bridge to its lift should be completed by Thursday after crews string new cables and attach them to the bridge's massive counterweights.
If all goes according to plan, Chesapeake officials say the bridge could reopen to cars (but no trucks) by Dec. 15. It will be the first time the bridge has linked Portsmouth and South Norfolk in 1 1/2 years.
The Jordan Bridge closed in May 1994 after one of its four pulley systems failed. Rather than repair the bridge immediately, the Chesapeake City Council decided to close it indefinitely.
Later, as part of a $76.9 million bond referendum for Chesapeake road improvements, $2.4 million was set aside to repair the bridge.
During the Jordan Bridge's closure, traffic congestion increased at Norfolk's Downtown Tunnel as workers traveling to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth were forced to use the tunnel. Some of that tunnel congestion is expected to ease after the Jordan Bridge reopens.
``This bridge has a lot of nostalgia,'' said Felch. ``There aren't a whole lot of lift spans being built anymore, so it's nice to have the opportunity to work on one.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
HUY NGUYEN/The Virginian-Pilot
Workers align the repaired 600-ton lift span, on the left, to the
Jordan Bridge Tuesday. Work should be finished by Thursday.
by CNB