Dangerous debris in Nansemond River to be removed

SUFFOLK

The Virginia Department of Transportation will pay $130,000 to remove dozens of dangerous timber piles in the Nansemond River, but a report about the situation suggests more might need to be done.

Surveys of the river began last month after a boater struck something near where the Kings Highway Bridge once crossed the river. A VDOT contractor found eight debris fields in the navigable waterway, some with piles 7 feet below the surface at high tide, according to a report from the contractor, Seaward Marine Corporation.

VDOT concluded that the piles are from a fender system on the bridge that predated the state's takeover of the structure in 1963, said Harry Kenyon, a VDOT spokesman. As a result, the state didn't know about the piles, and neither did the contractor that demolished the bridge last year, he said.

The piles did not pose a hazard until the demolition opened more of the river to boat traffic, Kenyon said.

The Army Corps of Engineers directed VDOT to remove all obstructions near the bridge site within the river's navigable channel, according to a letter dated Oct. 1.

Kenyon said the work should be done well within the 90-day limit given by the corps. The cost is estimated at $130,000.

Seaward Marine, the VDOT contractor, reported that there could be more obstructions.

In addition to the area surveyed, "there are strong indications that additional vertical hazards exist along the entire crossing corridor," the report said.

A commercial waterman said he had twice hit objects close to the river's southern shoreline, the report said. The contractor recommended more surveys to assess all navigational hazards in that area.

VDOT has no plans at this time to remove any debris outside of the channel because it is not responsible for it, Kenyon said.

However, VDOT has assured the Virginia Marine Resources Commission that it will clean up all the bridge debris in the area, said John Bull, a spokesman for the commission.

"If there remains any sort of hazard, we'll investigate and intervene if necessary," Bull said.

Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com