Promise of temporary bridge appeases 250 New Smyrna Beach residents
.jpg)
NSBNEWS.net photos by Henry Frederick / The 200-foot-span concrete bridge built 44 years ago over Turnbull Bay would cost $4 million to replace. The concrete bridge was closed last month because of structural deficiencies following an inspection. At a meeting Tuesday night at the Brannon Center, officials agreed on a temporary measure to ease the hardship on area residents.NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Finances are tight at the city and county levels, but 250 residents packing the Brannon Center tonight were adamant that the expected two-year wait for a new $4 million Turnbull Bay Bridge and a 6-mile detour wwere not acceptable. After some heated discussion, officials agreed to pay $200,000 for a temporary span to go 3 feet above the corrupted bridge which could be in place in as little as three months. It's a big if, though, assuming the pylons are sound.
The Brannon Center in New Smyrna Beach is jammed with residents looking for a quick fix for the Turnbull Bay Bridge as shown here.
"I don't think you realize we're not going to be quiet about this," said Shira Beth Wild, who lives near the bridge. "It's up to the people we voted (for) to fix this, otherwise what good are you?"
"I don't think you realize we're not going to be quiet about this," said Shira Beth Wild, who lives near the bridge. "It's up to the people we voted (for) to fix this, otherwise what good are you?"
Cheryl Radcliffe, a mother of two small children, apologized for being 30 minutes late for the 6 p.m. meeting when she took to the microphone, but said she had to take "the detour" around the bridge, which for many is as much as 6.2 miles.
But just when it seemed all hope was lost on waiting until the announced August 2003 time line for the new bridge, Volusia County Council Chairman Frank Bruno took a leap of faith and volunteered not only the resources of the county, but city and state as well in coming up with the $200,000 needed to place a temporary span over the existing bridge which could be done in as little as three months.
Mayor Adam Barringer, Volusia County Council Chairman Frank Bruno and State Rep. Dorothy Hukill all agree to seek funding for a temporary span over the closed Turnbull Bay Bridge in New Smyrna Beach as they stand in front of 250 people at the Brannon Center.
"I have no problem going back to my commission," Bruno said after calling Mayor Adam Barringer and State Rep. Dorothy Hukill to stand with him at the microphone, which they did.
"I don't believe the mayor would have a problem going back to his commission and I don't believe Dorothy Hukill would have a problem going back to FDOT to see if we can come up with the extra couple hundred thousand dollars to have the temporary bridge put in place," Bruno continued. "We need to partner. The mayor said it right from the beginning."
Both agreed with Barringer making clear that despite the fact the bridge is county-owned the city will not sit idly by without bringing relief to the residents.
City Commissioner Jim Hathaway, whose zone 3 seat includes the Turnbull Bay Bridge area, said the mayor would have his support.
"I believe 100 percent the the city of New Smyrna Beach will find the money," even it has to to "dip into the reserves," said Hathaway, an announced candidate for the County Council seat held by outgoing incumbent Joie Alexander. Hathaway has been to the bridge several times with county engineers to get a first-hand look at the structural deficiencies.
"I believe 100 percent the the city of New Smyrna Beach will find the money," even it has to to "dip into the reserves," said Hathaway, an announced candidate for the County Council seat held by outgoing incumbent Joie Alexander. Hathaway has been to the bridge several times with county engineers to get a first-hand look at the structural deficiencies.
Hukill called for the meeting after Wild and others turned to her for help when they learned the county had closed the bridge Aug. 8, due to as county engineering described in a document "structural issues after 44 years in (a) corrosive saltwater environment."
Even if a temporary span was placed 3 feet above the structure, the pylons would have to be structurally sound and that has yet to be determined, cautioned County Engineer Gerald N. Brinton, who added the temporary span could be put in place within a three-month period.
Earlier in the meeting, Brinton gave a power point presentation that stated federal funding would not be available for another year and the bridge replacement would take a year. When the temporary bridge overlay was suggested, he and others were quick to say funding was limited, but that didn't sit well with the residents, some of whom complained CRA monies were being used for downtown programs and that the county was too caught up in funding the Ocean Center.
Bruno shot up and said ongoing funding for the Ocean Center is borne through bed tax monies through hotel receipts.
Barbara Ellis, who described herself as a 40-year resident of Turnbull Bay Bridge community, said she's "driven down that bridge when it was wood. We had no problem then. With all of the money from the CRA's, the (county) funding for the Doris Leeper Park, why can't we have the money for this bridge?"
Brinton explained that the money would come exclusively from the federal government, a mandate, with a timetable that can't be moved up sooner.
That drew heckling from the audience, leading Bruno to step forward with the compromise fix.
Ironically, Bruno told the audience, he was there in place of Alexander, who is recovering from knee surgery.
Hukill, the Republican state representative, and Bruno, the county council chairman and a regisred Democrat, are both term limited in their current seats and are the announced candidates so far in the p[artisan state senate seat held by incumbent Republican Evelyn Lynn of Ormond Beach.
Besides Barringer and Hathaway, Commissioners Jack Grasty and Lynne Plaskett attended the meeting as did County Council at-large member Joyce Cusack of Deltona, who voiced support for the temporary bridge span.
NSBNews.net, also known as VolusiaNews.net, provides Volusia County 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage, 100% free with breaking news, news of record and investigative reports from New Smyrna Beach, FL, for a 21st-century digital world.
