Received a note late on 10/15/08 from one of our most faithful correspondents, Captain Allan DeWall, that copied a newspaper article reporting the permanent “closing” of the “Jordan Bridge” at Statute Mile 2.8. Unfortunately, as the article is copyrighted, I can not reproduce it here.
Anyway, I e-mailed Captain Allan, and asked whether all this meant the span in question would remain in the open position. After some research, he replied:

Claiborne,
I found a bit more about the plans for closing the bridge. The following is from an online brochure entitled “Decommisioning of the Jordan Bridge; Your Questions Answered”:
What will happen to the bridge?
The lift span will be placed in the `up’ position and gates will be down and locked. Within six months of the
decommission date, Public Works will work with a contractor to begin complete disassembly of the bridge to remove it from the waterway. The City plans to salvage the steel in an effort to offset removal expenses.
You can download the 2-page brochure at:
http://www.chesapeake.va.us/services/depart/pub-wrks/pdffiles/jordan-bridge-assessment/Jordan-Bridge-Decommissioning-Brochure-opt.pdf
Cheers,
Allan

Subject: ICW bridge closing in Norfolk, VA
Message: Claiborne,
The first two bridges encountered by southbound ICW cruisers leaving Norfolk are the normally- raised Norfolk & Portsmouth Railroad Bridge at ICW M/M 2.6 and the Jordan Highway Bridge at ICW M/M 2.8. The Jordan Bridge has been declared unsafe for highway traffic and will close permanently on November 8. The bridge will be raised to it\’s full 145 foot height after closure and will no longer impede ICW traffic flow.
The Jordan Bridge is the first on-request bridge south of Norfolk and sits 15\’ above low water. It is built of girders and rises horizontally between two towers.
Norman R. Blinn