Meg Hibbert
Contributing writer
Traffic began backing up more than usual this week after construction began to replace Apperson Bridge over the Roanoke River at Electric Road.
The construction project is expected to take 16 months. Meanwhile, Monday night Salem Mayor Renee Turk and Salem City Council urged drivers to find alternative routes.
While she was speaking that night, construction crews were already putting out traffic cones to direct traffic to one lane approaching the bridge.
According to the city officials and the Virginia Department of Transportation, traffic will be reduced to one lane while the other lane is torn up and replaced, much like has been done over the last year on the Colorado Street Bridge.
During the June 23 meeting, Salem Assistant Director of Engineering Will Simpson explained “We are expecting large backups. We’re urging everyone to find and use other options in that area.”
And Simpson added, “The Apperson Bridge has been a headache for quite some time.”
“We have to realize the city is at the mercy of the contractor that is doing the work,” the mayor said.
Monday night’s meeting was fairly routine, with only one citizen, Stella Reinhard, speaking during the citizen comment section, one zoning request approved on second reading and several contract renewals. Reinhard asked City Council to consider setting up citizen advisory committees to recognize things that give the city character. She gave as an example two buildings at the corner of Thompson Memorial Drive and East Main Street that are being demolished, with no use as yet specified.
Council approved:
- Rezoning a lot at 51 St. John Rd. from Highway Manufacturing to Highway Business District. It was approved on first reading at the June 9 Council meeting;
- Authorizing City Manager Chris Dorsey to execute a three-year lease for Total Action for Progress for TAP to continue using the old train station at 1031 S. College Ave., for preschool classes for children of families who meet poverty guidelines;
- Authorizing the city manager to execute a lease of 3,000 square feet office space on the top floor of the Salem Police Department building. The lease is with the U.S. Government and is used for federal Judge Stuart Agee’s office. Shell rent is $110,000 and $20,962 operating rent Councilman Randy Foley, who was participating remotely, noted “The city owns the space. It reverts to us whenever the federal government chooses to discontinue using it”;
- Authorizing the city manager to finalize a lease with TMobile to continue placing equipment on the Kime Lane water tank;
- Moving $66,511 into the Salem Parks and Recreation account to replace scoreboards at Spartan Field. Funds include $35,000 donated by the Salem Rotary Club, $13,000 from the Salem School Division and $18,000 left in Salem Red Sox funds;
- An agreement for the city to be the fiscal agent for the Cardinal Criminal Justice Academy and Court Community’s Virginia Safety Action Program.
Four Councilmembers were physically present: Mayor Turk, Vice Mayor AnneMarie Green, and Councilmembers Hunter Holliday and John Saunders. Councilman Foley attended remotely because of what he said was a temporary medical condition.
The meeting adjourned at 6:53 pm.
