Published: October 14, 2008 09:31 pm         

Securing the bridge: Keeping thousands of visitors safe a massive undertaking

FAYETTEVILLE — For those associated with planning the massive Bridge Day festival each year, the topic is never far from their thoughts as the event draws nearer.

Take Bill Scott, for example.

Scott, a State Police sergeant who is commander of the Rainelle detachment, is his agency’s official representative on the Bridge Day Commission, which supervises preparations for Bridge Day’s third-Saturday-of-every-year occurrence. This year’s event will officially begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, but many things have to happen prior to the bridge being open to pedestrian traffic.

Tuesday, Scott patiently fielded a call from a reporter while playing a round of golf at White Oak Country Club in Oak Hill. Call his day off from work the calm before the storm.

He is among the law enforcement personnel involved in a large security detail whose primary goal is to make sure Bridge Day comes off with as few hitches as possible. Especially since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — which prompted Bridge Day to be canceled that year — a stronger focus has been placed on security for the state’s largest one-day festival. Beginning with the 2002 event, U.S. 19 in the vicinity of the New River Gorge Bridge has been closed entirely, instead of allowing traffic to drive by on the two lanes of the highway a median away from the pedestrians.

And that move has worked well, Scott believes, with motorists getting used to the concept of having to detour onto W.Va. 16 and U.S. 60. Delays have been minimal, he said.

The bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic except emergency or other necessary vehicles from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, with walkers allowed on the span beginning at 9 a.m. BASE jumpers and rappellers will perform their extreme sports events from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, commercial traffic is detoured toward Charleston or other points from the I-64/I-77 split in Raleigh County and the I-79/U.S. 19 split in Braxton County. In Fayetteville (south side) and Lansing (north), local traffic has until 7 a.m. before detours go into effect that divert traffic away from the bridge. Scott reminds those coming south on W.Va. 16 that they can’t drive across the intersection into Fayetteville; instead they have to turn right onto U.S. 19 and can enter the county seat via Lively Street or another access.

Scott says the state Division of Highways’ placement of numerous signs along roadways well ahead of the event have made the traffic transition smoother in recent years.

“As far as the event itself, we’ve had no major incidents and very few minor incidents,” he said. “My family goes to the event and I feel safe enough for my family to attend.”

Scott says a cadre of between 150 and 175 personnel representing numerous law enforcement agencies perform a variety of tasks to provide a safe environment for visitors. Among those represented are State Police (about 50 troopers), Fayette County Sheriff’s Department, National Park Service, Fayetteville Police Department, FBI, West Virginia Army National Guard and other military agencies, U.S. Marshals Service and CSX Police.

The bridge is swept for signs of any suspicious packages, etc., on Friday. “The bridge is thoroughly inspected by the State Police and the FBI,” Scott said. After the sweeps, the Army National Guard (in the area of the bridge) and the Fayette Sheriff’s Department (along Fayette Station Road) are vigilant in maintaining stringent security measures throughout the weekend, he added.

The 35th CST is also on hand to monitor for any chemical or other type of foreign agents, and observational support is also provided by the RAID unit.

Since it’s an election year, the presence of political figures will no doubt increase law enforcement’s efforts. And Gov. Joe Manchin is scheduled to be among those taking part in a motorcycle ride across the bridge sponsored by the West Virginia Motorcycle Safety Program at about noon Saturday, meaning more caution by officers.

Gary Hartley, chief ranger of the National Park Service’s New River Gorge National River, says constant honing of the security package and other planning details of the event make for pretty smooth operation, especially given the magnitude of the festival.

“Everything’s pretty much on schedule,” he said. “We tweak it a little each year, but the agencies are working really well together.

“It’s much easier for us to coordinate ... as far as capabilities and resources.”

Scott says his day Saturday begins at 4:45 a.m. and includes briefings with special operations units of the State Police and the sheriff’s office. Ahead of time, officers run down background information on those who will be involved in Bridge Day such as vendors, BASE jumpers, rappellers, motorcyclists, etc. That morning, they will also run a sweep on vendors as they prepare to move their products out to their designated spots near the bridge.

Various contraband and even a couple of guns have been found in the past, resulting in vendors, spectators or others not being allowed to participate, but Scott says overall the event is a safe one.

“It’s a good, family-type event,” he said. “What we’ve found (to be a problem) has been pretty minimal.”

— E-mail: skeenan@register-herald.com