Jordan Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Norfolk Jordan Bridge |
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The new South Norfolk Jordan Bridge
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| Carries | Vehicles, pedestrians |
| Crosses | Southern Branch Elizabeth River |
| Locale | Chesapeake, Portsmouth |
| Official name | South Norfolk Jordan Bridge |
| Other name(s) | Jordan Bridge |
| Owner | United Bridge Partners |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | about 5,000 ft (1,500 m) |
| Height | 145 ft (44 m) |
The Jordan Bridge, also known as the South Norfolk Jordan Bridge, is a special kind of bridge called a toll bridge. This means you pay a small fee to drive across it. It carries State Route 337 over the Southern Branch Elizabeth River. This river separates the cities of Portsmouth and Chesapeake in Virginia.
The new Jordan Bridge is very modern. It uses an electronic system to collect tolls, so you don't have to stop. It's also a fixed bridge, which means it doesn't open up for boats like some old bridges did. This new design solved problems with traffic delays and made it easier for big vehicles to cross the river.
The first Jordan Bridge opened way back in 1928. It was built by local businessmen, including Carl Jordan, who the bridge was later named after. After 80 years, the old bridge was worn out and closed in 2008. A brand new bridge, paid for by private companies, opened in 2012. It's now owned and run by United Bridge Partners.
Building the First Bridge
The original bridge was first called the Norfolk-Portsmouth Bridge. A businessman named Carl M. Jordan helped plan and find money for it. He owned a lumber company with his brother Wallace. They often brought lumber from the Great Dismal Swamp to their mill. They found that the old ferry service across the river wasn't reliable enough for their business or for other people in the community.
So, they decided to build a bridge! It was a vertical-lift drawbridge, which means a section of it could be lifted straight up to let tall boats pass underneath. The bridge cost about $1.25 million to build. It opened on August 24, 1928, with a big ceremony, and Virginia's Governor Harry F. Byrd was there.
Years later, the bridge was renamed the Jordan Bridge to honor Carl Jordan. He had also managed the bridge for a long time. In 1977, the bridge was given to the City of Chesapeake after all the building costs were paid off.
Why the Old Bridge Closed
The Jordan Bridge was very important for people traveling in the area. Many workers from the Norfolk Naval Shipyard used it every day during busy morning and afternoon times. Navy personnel also used it to get to their ships.
The bridge was also a helpful alternate route when other river crossings were busy or closed. For example, after Hurricane Isabel in 2003, another tunnel was flooded. The Jordan Bridge then became super busy, with 20,000 more vehicles using it each day!
However, the old bridge had only one lane in each direction. This often caused traffic jams and delays. It was also the oldest drawbridge in Virginia and could only hold vehicles weighing up to 3 tons. Because it was so old and needed many expensive repairs, the city decided to close it permanently on November 8, 2008.
The New Jordan Bridge
After the old bridge closed, the city council decided in 2009 to build a new one. This new bridge was built using money from private companies, not from the government. This meant the bridge would be paid for by the tolls collected from drivers.
The new South Norfolk Jordan Bridge was finished and opened on October 27, 2012. It cost about $142 million to build.
The new bridge has a modern toll system. The price you pay depends on the type of vehicle you have, whether it's a busy time of day or not, and if you use an electronic payment system like E-ZPass. A great new feature is a free path for people to walk or jog across the bridge!
