South Norfolk Jordan Bridge reopens to thru traffic 3 weeks after fire forced closure
The South Norfolk Jordan Bridge fully reopened to traffic Saturday night, three weeks after a fire on a mechanical structure that extends over the west end of the span.
The Jordan Bridge was not damaged by the Dec. 16 blaze, but was closed to thru traffic, along with part of Elm Avenue, due to concerns over the structural integrity of a conveyer belt extending over the road and the western exit of the bridge.
The conveyer belt is part of the WIN Waste Innovations facility, just north of the western end of the Jordan Bridge near the Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Contractors with WIN Waste safely removed the damaged conveyor in recent days, allowing traffic to return to normal, according to Laura Weber, a spokesperson for the bridge.
Pedestrian and limited vehicular traffic could go westbound over the bridge into Portsmouth from Chesapeake during the closure. Access was available to Norfolk Naval Shipyard parking lots as well as local businesses adjacent to the bridge. But no traffic could cross eastbound.
The closure affected access to Victory Boulevard, Gate 36, Effingham Street and downtown Portsmouth, according to a news release from bridge authorities.
No one was injured in the fire, and its cause remains unclear.
Kevin Crum, general manager of the bridge, thanked the community for its support during the repairs and acknowledged the “significant” traffic and economic disruptions the closure caused to the surrounding area, including for the shipyard.
There will not be any increase to tolls for commuters crossing the bridge to cover the revenue lost during the closure, according to Weber. The bridge will address any traffic or revenue loss “with the responsible parties,” she said in a statement.
