The city of Richmond this afternoon announced the reopening of the Belle Isle emergency vehicle bridge, which had been closed since late January for repairs.
The city had closed the 17-year-old bridge to all traffic -- even people on foot -- after discovering faulty welds in the steel-framed structure, which extends from the south bank of the James River to the island.
Repairs were to have taken up to 75 days, but Roanoke-based Lanford Brothers Co. Inc. finished the job in 30 days. Work included repairing deficient welds, removing and replacing bolts at various locations, repairing the timber deck and grinding smooth gouges on the bridge.
Richmond police, fire, emergency and park vehicles had no access to the island while the bridge was closed.
Belle Isle is connected to the north bank of the James by a pedestrian footbridge that hangs beneath the Lee Bridge. The pedestrian bridge was reopened in late March after being closed for nearly a month because a piece of concrete fell onto it from the Lee Bridge.
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