Kings Hwy. Bridge to shut down

Published 12:00 am Friday, March 18, 2005

The dilapidated Kings Highway Bridge will fade into the pages of local history this weekend.

The Virginia Department of Transportation is closing the 77-year-old swingspan bridge crossing the Nansemond River Saturday morning, said MacFarland Neblett, resident engineer in VDOT’s Suffolk office. The move comes just days after state inspectors completed a two-day safety study on the bridge.

&uot;After viewing the most recent inspection report, it has become clear that the Kings Highway Bridge is deteriorated beyond the point where it can be reasonably repaired,&uot; Neblett said. &uot;In the interest of public safety, we have made the difficult decision to close it until a new bridge can be built.&uot;

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Although VDOT has repeatedly indicated it would not invest additional funding in bridge repairs, the city recently asked the agency what it would take to keep the bridge open until another one could be built, said Angela Lawler, a VDOT spokeswoman.

VDOT advised city leaders that the bridge could be temporarily shored up for an estimated $700,000, which would have to be funded by the city, according to a letter from City Manager R. Steven Herbert.

Under VDOT’s plan,

-Traffic would be limited to a single lane at a time, regulated by a stoplight.

-The

weight limit would be reduced to three tons, which will prevent all vehicles besides cars and light trucks from using it.

-If the city funds the repairs, it must enter into an agreement with VDOT accepting all liability if something happens

-VDOT would continue to perform monthly inspections.

&uot;Suffolk asked us what it would take to leave the bridge open but we don’t have the dollars to make the repairs,&uot; Lawler said. &uot;At the rate the bridge is deteriorating, it is the best interest of public safety to close it.&uot;

Herbert, in his letter to VDOT, said the Suffolk City Council does not support funding repairs or accepting liability that should be VDOT’s responsibility.

&uot;Given the substantial financial hardship and inconvenience associated with closing this bridge, we urge VDOT to make the necessary repairs to keep it open until the new bridge can be funded and constructed,&uot; Herbert said in a letter to VDOT.

Mayor Bobby L. Ralph said he doesn’t believe the city should assume the entire cost of repairs and liability that would be involved in keeping the bridge open.

VDOT was effectively &uot;wiping its hands&uot; of the situation with its offer, Ralph said.

&uot;They haven’t stepped forward and offered to meet us,&uot; he said. &uot;But I think the city would be willing to step up and participate in some sort of joint venture.&uot;

The agency is still willing to sit down and work with the city, Lawler said.

VDOT was set to move ahead with plans to build a replacement bridge several years ago. Had those plans stayed on track, construction probably would have gotten under way this year, Neblett said.

But after numerous public hearings, Suffolk asked VDOT to consider a more costly realignment of the bridge about a mile upstream. By the time VDOT studied and agreed to the proposal, funding that was earmarked for replacement construction was diverted to another project.

Early studies for the realignment are now underway, Neblett said. Although there is no money for the project in VDOT’s six-year plan, he said construction could begin by 2008 if funding becomes available.

allison.williams@suffolknewsherald.com