THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, May 18, 1996 TAG: 9605180006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Those who commute across the York River got two pieces of good news last week: The newly enlarged George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge reopened three days ahead of schedule.
For those making a 75-mile detour, those three days were precious.
But the very presence of the four-lane span over the York River between Yorktown and Gloucester Point should be welcome news to drivers on both sides of the water. As traffic in Hampton Roads becomes increasingly snarled and roads, bridges and tunnels age, any improvement in local infrastructure ought to be met with rejoicing.
The $103 million project was heralded as the first time in history a bridge was built in complete sections and floated to its destination. This was a regional effort: The bridge was built at Norfolk International Terminals by a Virginia Beach company and floated to the York River.
The original Coleman Bridge was two lanes wide and built in 1952. The new bridge is twice as wide and will have the dubious distinction of being Virginia's only toll bridge. Beginning in August, a trip across the Coleman will cost $2, except for commuters, who will pay 50 cents.
One worker lost his life during construction of the bridge. Dennis O'Toole, a Virginia Beach ironworker, was killed last June while working on one of the spans. O'Toole will be remembered during a formal ceremony marking the opening of the bridge in late July or early August. by CNB