Tchula bridge closed until 2009 07-07-08

ON JUNE 27TH A SPECIAL DIVING TEAM CAME TO INSPECT THE TCHULA LAKE BRIDGE. THEY FOUND CAVE PALLETS BROKEN AND SAY THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.  TCHULA OFFICIALS SAY THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LET PEOPLE EVEN WALK ACROSS THE BRIDGE. THE BRIDGE SERVES AS THE MAIN ACCESS TO THE CITY FOR NEARLY 75 HOUSE HOLDS AND SEVERAL BUSINESSES.  THE BRIDGE WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL 2009. THIS HAS UPSET MANY OF THE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. A PRESS CONFERENCE WAS HELD THIS MORNING AT THE BRIDGE. SENATOR DAVID JORDAN AND THE HOLMES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE COME UP WITH A PLAN TO GET THE BRIDGE UP AND RUNNING. NOW THAT The BRIDGE IS CLOSED THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE OTHER SIDE HAVE TO TAKE AN 8 AND A HALF MILE DETOUR JUST TO GET TO ANYTHING ON THIS SIDE OF THE BRIDGE. A TCHULA RESIDENT SAYS, "IT'S PUT A HARDSHIP ON THE PEOPLE ACROSS THE LAKE ON OLD PEOPLE HAVING TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO THE DRUG STORE, GROCERY STORE AND AROUND HERE. IT'S JUST REAL BAD BUT WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO?" THE CITY OF TCHULA IS TAKING SEVERAL STEPS TO PROVIDE FOR WELFARE AND SAFETY OF THOSE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS WILL PLACE THE COUNTY'S MOBILE COMMAND UNIT ACROSS THE BRIDGE TO SERVE AS A SUBSTATION FOR EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. IN ADDITION THEY WILL PLACE A FIRE TRUCK OVER THERE TO REDUCE RESPONSE TIME IN CASE OF FIRE. WILLIE TOWNSEND, DISTRICT 5 SUPERVISOR TELLS US, "WE NOT DOING SOMETHING BECAUSE WE WANT TO DO SOMETHING. THIS WAS PASSED DOWN THE PIPE TO US BY THE STATE. WE WANT THE BRIDGE TO STAY OPEN TOO. BUT ONCE THE STATE PASSED THE ORDERS DOWN OUR JOB IS TO FOLLOW UP ON THE ORDERS. TO THE CITIZENS OF HOMES COUNTY WE HAVE YOU AT HEART." BIDS TO GET THE PROJECT DONE WILL BE TAKEN IN OCTOBER. BIDS WILL OPEN IN NOVEMBER AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BRIDGE WILL BEGIN JANUARY 2009. HOLMES COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HOPE TO HAVE THE BRIDGE COMPLETED SOMETIME BEFORE THE END OF NEXT YEAR.