Okay, the headline is a bit sarcastic. But since the date for the closing of the Newport Avenue Bridge has been a moving target up until now, it’s hard to take it seriously when they finally commit to it. But there’s this item on KTVZ naming tomorrow (Saturday) the day, and I also heard the same thing on the radio this morning.
The first date I’d heard for the closing was April 1st. Then, a few days before the first, word was the date got pushed back to the 7th. Next it was the 10th. However, the orange construction sign at the bridge downtown still says April 7th. (I noticed this as I crossed the bridge yesterday, on the 13th.) And in the meantime there’s been a big pile driver sitting there, ready to get started on wanton deconstruction.
So, if the bridge is actually closed tomorrow, everybody has to remember to use the Portland Avenue or Galveston Avenue bridges to get to the west side. What a pain.
Oh, and does anyone really believe the bridge will only be closed for seven months? Knowing how road projects tend to work around here, I’m betting it’ll run long… Maybe we should start a pool.
From the Austin Powers movie…
What’s going to be baby, Spits or Swallows?
Seriously, I’ve been avoiding driving down Newport, just because I have no idea if it’s open or closed. I’ll try it today. Watch it be closed.
Its pretty unlikely that they will close the entire bridge during this process.
The way this usually gets done is that they will build a new half while traffic uses the old bridge. Then they will route traffic over the new half, tear down the old bridge and build the remaining half.
It will be an inconvenience but I doubt that it will be completely closed to vehicle traffic.
No, I think it’s all going in this case. According to the Z21 article I linked to, "The existing bridge must be completely demolished before the new bridge can be constructed."
It is closed. Thank godness I don’t live on Portland Ave anymore.
My bet is it won’t open until next April.
And jon’s right, evan: The whole thing is apparently going to be demolished. The bridge is stupidly old, and needs to be torn down.