The St. Augustine Record
Friday, June 27, 2003

Details of bridge project reviewed
By PETER GUINTA
Senior Writer

About 150 St. Augustine residents took a close-up, detailed peek at the proposed $46.7 million Bridge of Lions reconstruction project Thursday night, and many liked what they saw.

A new park on the east end, improved parks on the west end, improved traffic safety and a buffer separating cars and pedestrians on the bridge were only a few good points.Bridge drive lanes will be wider, as will sidewalks, and its lighting and architecture will reflect the original 1927 style.However, more than a few residents revived an old controversy and told the DOT they wanted a new, four-lane bridge instead of the reconstructed two-lane bridge.

The DOT made the decision several years ago to rehabilitate the present bridge which was found to be structurally deficient by the state.At the public hearing in St. Johns County Auditorium, Florida Department of Transportation officials, backed by design engineers from Reynolds, Smith & Hills, presented their latest construction drawings, approach plans, historic overviews, and traffic and pedestrian circulation maps. The construction project includes a temporary bridge and the part of the project will begin in late 2004 and take about a year to complete. After its construction, then work on the Bridge of Lions will begin. The project is expected to take three to five years, according to the DOT construction schedule.

Dave Sweeney, design engineer for RS&H, said 90 percent of the plans are complete and that traffic will flow at the same speed it does now."The temporary bridge will have two 11-foot drive lanes and a 6-foot sidewalk," Sweeney said. "The permanent bridge will have two 11-foot drive lanes, two 5-foot, 2-inch sidewalks and a 1.2 foot safety edge on each side, plus safety barriers."The DOT wanted public comment so it could make final decisions on some issues, such as traffic changes on the east end of the bridge.Davis Shores residents are concerned about safety, more traffic and access to homes and businesses if the left turn lane now giving access to St. Augustine Boulevard disappears, as is planned.Oglethorpe will become busier, Flagler Boulevard will become a cul-de-sac and traffic headed to the north end of Davis Shores will route to Gerado Street, according to the plan.

Sweeney said engineers had reconfigured the intersection to reduce the number of "conflict points," or potential crash sites, from 47 to 17."This is a vast improvement over the existing intersection," he said.Theresa Segal, president of Save Our Bridge, said she supported the bridge being restored as much as possible, even with the design changes.

"I'm impressed with the park design, which would be impressive to any neighborhood," Segal said, but she did not like moving the two lions guarding the bridge approach to the center of the west park, as is proposed.

Others agreed.

Retired history professor Robert Hall said, "The Bridge of Lions defines our community. Thank God we're saving it. In the past we almost tore down other historic structures, like the fort and the City Gates."Nancy Sikes-Kline, a resident of Davis Shores, also said she supports the intersection change at St. Augustine Boulevard."I may be inconvenienced a little at first, but I find the reconstruction plan a vast improvement," Sikes-Kline said.Those who oppose a rebuilt bridge also had their say, even though they knew this issue was not on the table.Bill Puckett said traffic in Davis Shores would worsen."This (plan) will be at the expense of residents and residential streets. It could become one of the biggest traffic snarls in Florida," he said.

Virginia Whetstone, owner of the Edgewater Inn, said taking away the left turn lane onto St. Augustine Boulevard makes her 20 guests drive around back streets, trying to find a way to her inn."You have put commercial traffic in a residential neighborhood," Whetstone said. "Reconsider this plan. There will be a financial consequence."Mary Pat Fischer, a mother of three small children who lives on Oglethorpe, said 20 children live on that road and cars fly by now at 45-50 mph."There are no stop signs or traffic calming devices," she said. "They can get on my street and fly, and they do."

Art Runk Sr., a member of Citizens for a Safe New Bridge, said the DOT deceives taxpayers because it claims the rebuilt bridge will meet current minimum standards."FDOT says the present bridge is a compromise. It is, in reality, a total capitulation to the preservationists," Runk said.John W. Daniels of Avista Circle, another supporter of a new bridge, said his group was too late in lobbying DOT for one.

"They plan to replace the substandard, functionally obsolete Bridge of Lions with a new substandard, functionally obsolete bridge," Daniels said. "This is like Ford retooling its assembly line to manufacture the Model A. You are doing something for St. Augustine that the current City Commission does not have the foresight or gumption to do. You are going to build us a new parking facility in downtown St. Augustine."The DOT plans another public information display and open house today in the Alcazar Room at St. Augustine City Hall, from noon to 2 p.m.The design team and DOT representatives will be on hand to answer questions.