THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 2, 1996 TAG: 9608020445
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Briefs
DATELINE: GLOUCESTER POINT LENGTH: 25 lines
The Virginia Department of Transportation and Tidewater Construction will open all four lanes of the new George P. Coleman Memorial Bridge to traffic today and dedicate the bridge in a ceremony at Gloucester Beach.
The public may attend the 10 a.m. ribbon-cutting. During the ceremony, Dennis O'Toole, an ironworker from Virginia Beach who died while the bridge was under construction in Norfolk, will be honored. Gov. George F. Allen also plans to attend.
The largest double-swing bridge in the country, the bridge was constructed in sections on special piers over the water at Norfolk International Terminals, then floated to its place over the York River in May. The $103 million span opened with two lanes of traffic May 13.
With all its lanes open, the bridge will be able to carry 30,000 cars a day on two lanes north to Gloucester and two lanes south to Yorktown.
Beginning tomorrow, motorists will pay a $2 one-way toll to cross the York. Commuters enrolled in a fast-toll program will pay 50 cents.
KEYWORDS: COLEMAN BRIDGE OPENING TOLL by CNB