Close to 70 percent of the region's worst bridges will not be fixed any time soon because money has not been identified for the work, according to a report released Wednesday.
Of the 54 bridges considered structurally deficient by federal standards, repair work is scheduled to begin on five within six years. Another 12 have funding, but construction will not begin before 2014. The rest have no funding.
The study, conducted by the Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization, a regional transportation planning body, notes that the deficiency ratings do not necessarily mean the bridges are unsafe. The classification means the bridge has elements that need to be regularly monitored, inspected and maintained. Often they're posted with weight limits.
In addition, among the region's 284 bridges considered obsolete, 13 have some funding for improvements. Obsolete means that bridges don't meet modern standards because they don't have adequate lane or shoulder widths, or adequate vertical clearances.
"It's not a crisis now, but if the trend continues, we may have a crisis," said Dwight Farmer, executive director of the planning organization.
The five bridges on which construction will start within six years are the Gilmerton Bridge, the George Washington Highway over Yadkins Road, and St. Brides Road over Lead Ditch in Chesapeake; Camp Parkway over the Blackwater River in Isle of Wight County and Franklin; and John Tyler Highway over Chickahominy River in James City County.
Overall, more than one-fourth of the region's bridges are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, with some of the worst concentrated in Chesapeake and Southampton County. Of 1,237 bridges, 338 are either in need of repairs or don't meet modern standards, said Camelia Ravanbakht, deputy executive director of the planning organization.
Twenty-five bridges in Hampton Roads are included in the state six-year funding plan for replacement, the report shows. Most of them have deficient or obsolete ratings.
Their combined estimated cost is $785 million, yet just $345 million has been allocated. Only nine of the bridges are fully funded under the state's plan.
Eleven bridges have funding in local cities' capital improvement plans.
The lack of funding " really should not be any surprise," Ravanbakht said. Transportation funding has been a contentious issue in the General Assembly, which had a special session over the summer try to work out solutions but little was agreed upon.
The commission began studying local bridges last year at the request of Chesapeake. Chesapeake officials will close one of the city's failing bridges, the Jordan Bridge, by the end of the year because it's unsafe and there's no money to repair or replace it. It's used by 7,000 vehicles daily.
The study, which was released in two parts, is the first comprehensive bridge study in the region and examines bridges owned by localities as well as the state. The first part, which focused on structural ratings, was released in July.
According to the report, while 4.4 percent of the region's bridges are classified as deficient, 9 percent of the bridges in Virginia and 12 percent of the bridges in the United States have deficient ratings.
The deficient and obsolete bridges represent 27.3 percent of all Hampton Roads bridges. The report indicates that 26 percent of Virginia bridges and 25 percent of U.S. bridges meet the criteria.
Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com The combined estimated cost of repairing all twenty-five bridges is $785 million. Just $345 million of the estimated cost has been allocated, with only nine of the bridges fully funded.
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So True Mary !!
The people of South Norfolk have big hearts and the churches reach out to minister to the community. Neighbors look out for neighbors and all that. The sad incident you spoke of at SNB happened about 3 blocks over and the victim was found in the church parking lot. It happened when the church was closed. They were surprised to learn what had taken place the next day but I’m sure that if someone had been there they would have helped in any way possible. Like I said before stop by for a visit before the Jordan is history. The revitalization that has been done is beautiful coming from the Jordan Bridge and extends 3 blocks down Poindexter. It’s so sad to have her dressed up all pretty then have the door slammed on the visitors going to and from Portsmouth. Totally poor planning, putting the cart before the horse. Cheers back at ya !
Elsie, Cradock is a beautiful historic neighborhood.
I have close friends who live there & have always considered Cradock like a sister neighbor to South Norfolk. Both were neglected 4 awhile & R on the upswing. People saw the historic value & prime central location of each neighborhood & invested. Like U, many bought their homes on account of the JB offering a quick way to work. I don’t depend on the JB daily but those who do must feel kicked to the curb. Where does your city stand on the dismantlement & non-replacement of the JB? What’s the point of building a Lucas hotel if people can’t get to it? Coming home from Hampton today the MM was backed up 2.5 miles, changed course to the HRBT to a 3.25 mile back up. Dealt with it, got off at Granby, Brambleton to the bridge was stop & go. Thankfully we were heading to 464 & not the tunnel. How bad will traffic be once the JB is gone?...To the Norfolk Zoo or Wards Corner? It’s already a circus, freak show coming soon.
It's their job
Hampton Roads Metropolitan Planning Organization is supposed to:
develop the annual Unified Planning Work Program, which includes the allocation of the funds authorized to finance the planning process
Get out there and lobby, get the money. Don't say there isn't money. There is billions and billions of dollars floating around going to all kinds of stuff - get out there and get it.
SoNo
Ironically, I once went to a baby shower at SO NO Baptist Church, site of that parking lot shooting the other night. It does seem like a historic and rebounding neighborhood. The people are said to have big hearts and spirits there. Cheers, MGM
Inner City does not equal Ghetto...
With the price of gas, living in the inner city makes more and more sense. Suburbanites having been moving back and inner city areas are improving in leaps and bounds. I live in Cradock...and the times, they are a changing! And, I live close to my job...provided I can scoot over the Jordan to 464.
Why can't we elect Minnesotta's Governer
I just read a report that Minnesota completed the replacement for the bridge that collapsed. They did it for around 250 Million for a 10 LANE INTERSTATE BRIDGE OVER A MAJOR WATERWAY IN JUST OVER A YEAR. Why is it in this area, that doesn't even start to cover replacement of a 4 lane bridge over a canal (Steel Bridge). I am sick of the cost and time over runs that seem inherent in every road project in Virginia. I have watched the progress of I 64 on the peninsula 13 years now and they are still working on it. The project on I64 near Battlefield will do nothing to relieve traffic in the area (caused by the merge right after I464). I am sorry for those who would be hurt, but do we need a bridge to collapse here for people (taxes) and politicians to take the problems serious?
Re: Mary
Mary we are on the same page in that the “ghetto” remark was a totally uncalled for, unconstructive rant, but have you ever visited South Norfolk? This is a Historic Neighborhood that is culturally diverse. Check out the works of local historian Raymond L. Harper or search the Pilot for some of his articles. South Norfolk was a city unto itself before 1964 with its own police/fire department and library. Stop by for a visit sometime before the Jordan is history.
Nospin
Umm, let's see. Did you mean the word "ghetto" to refer to Portsmouth? I am white, but that word has offended me way back to the 70's. It seems to be code for saying living in a racially integrated area. If you have a problem with that, why not just say it in real words everyone can understand? So . . . you were saying that you would rather live in "suburbs" (South Norfolk, Deep Creek, perhaps?) than in the "ghetto" (Portsmouth?). Did I break the code correctly? Here's a white person to say I would *much* rather live in historically and culturally diverse Portsmouth than in either of those two "suburbs," just in case you didn't think people exist who would feel that way. To each his own, Cheers, MGM
Pork Futures, Buck & Bridge.....
31 yrs Ches. has enjoyed a free ride compliments of Mr. Jordan’s GIFT. Toll $$ collected was to go into an Enterprise fund to be used solely to maintain the JB. Was that money used for the playground, parking, boat ramp & piers? If so, what’s that got to do with JB maintenance? That’s more like a perk for developer$.
Use to be that elected officials were considered public servants. All I see now are self servers lining their pocket$ at our expense, safety & quality of life. I didn’t live in the days of Truman but the buck stops here is a thing of the past since no official can seem find it anymore, unless it’s 4 a pet project. Maybe we should all invest in pork futures…Wouldn't it be grand if some local official made the JB their personal pet project? It was built through private enterprise the 1st time, if it has to be replaced go that route again. Fix or replace, don't leave us land locked with gridlock !
Hey crackdawg
Excuse me... some of us don't want to live in the ghetto... we like our suburbs, thank-you. How about politicians quit squandering the money that was suppossed to pay for road improvements. My neighbors and I pay plenty enough in taxes that we should get safe bridges to travel to the job that allow us to pay those taxes@!@#!@#
RE elect no one
This is a travesty of injustice by state and city officials. What happened to the toll money for the Jordan Bridge? What happened to the gas taxes? What happened to the State responsibility and oversight? What happened to the road taxes? Simply, the Government at the State and local levels failed the people of this area. Dereliction of duty and malfeasance in office is the only explanation. Re elect none one.
Three Billy Goats Gruff had it easy.
Here's a thought: Everyone write letters, send emails, telegraphs, smokesignals, to your regions representitive. Your senator, your congressman, your city council, your mayor ….and tell them what is needed. Bridges, bridges, and more bridges.
If Great BRIDGE can get it done, then any one should be able to.
It won't do any good to attract businesses to our cities when you can't get from one to another.
P.S. It’s a nice day out, go ride a bicycle.
whats up
Whats up with our leaders Governors Senators and Mayors where are all the State and city leaders when work needs to be done.We all no where Lucas is and what good work she is trying to get done for Portsmith but where is everyone else?VDOT we all no theyre sleeping along the road somewhere in the state.Dont we have some type of Transportation Authority?Just when you think things cant get any worse.What we need around hear is a big very big HURRICAN to sweep over us.Starting over would at least be doing something.Whats going on now is NOTHING.OUR leaders got together a few months ago and said we need this and that and everyone agreed left and said good job only problem was no one had any solutions or ideals on how when and where is the money going to come from.They all said one thing together and that was no new taxes.That was good but with no money nothing gets done.hell look at all the money collected from taxes now where is it going.I think our leaders need a raise.Its been some time sense their last one u no the cost of living has gone up sense then
Cry baby!
Submitted by crackajdawg on Thu, 09/18/2008 at 9:25 am.
Stop whining about the bridge closing. Move closer to your job.
Didn't seem like the theme was to whine,
Only to amplify this areas decline...
Didn't mention any closings,
But reflected how businesses are losing.
Whether over a bridge or around a corner to get yourself to work,
You'll wilt when VDOT holds their hands out with a smirk.
All they want is more clout, not a word of your concern,
While you sit in there in traffic as all your gas does burn.
See any whining in this one?
Local Projects
As long as this area is fragmented by local fiefdoms there will never be proper representation for it's share of road dollars. Everyone wants new roads but nobody wants to pay or have it in their backyard. If we listened to the people with no solutions we would still be using ferry boats to cross the area waterways.
yikes
Heaven forbid one of those decrepit bridges has a catastrophic failure and *then* they'll find money to repair it, rebuild it and pay off millions of dollars in liability claims. As my mother used to say, you can always find money for what's important. Guess the infrastructure just isn't that important - YET.
No problem, light rail is near
While politicians are wasting millions on the light rail project to few will ride, our bridges are falling down. Remember that next election.
This is the result of
This is the result of politicians that take your tax money and buy their votes with it. They either buy welfare votes (Democrats) or give tax cuts to business (Republicans). They neglect the long term, hidden in the background, infrastructure maintenance that tax money is supposed to pay for.
Until the tax payers force their elected officials to use their tax dollars wisely and treat their time in office as a service for the long term good of their vested district we are going to get the short end of the stick. Yes, most politicians nowadays seem to treat their time in office as a get rich quick mission for themselves and their cronies. We, as a people, need to elect better representation or this republic will just rust and crumble away…
Bridges
WHAT ABOUT THE TUNNELS? IS THERE ANY MONEY TO FIX THEM? Who spend the tax money for road repairs (does this include bridges and tunnels)? Maybe we can get some bridge money from the Town Center and Bike bridge proposed projects. Sorry Suffolk doesn't have any bridge money, so don't go there.
Bridge
Well - are we all surprised????? - We need all this fanzy stuff like "Lucas" is pushing - and our city is no exception - to bring all of these bunches of people to our fair cities including some of the terminals (which we need for tax revenue) - we never consider wear and tear on our roads - or what we are going to do with them when they get here - do we have enough fire or police to protect or enforce or if we have bridges that are about to fall down to get them around the area -just keep right on building - SET YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT - instead of making BAD choices or looking down the road or bridge in this case (you know it just might not be there)