Chestertown Volunteer Fire Department Chief Bruce Neal talked to the Spy about the how a month-long Chester River Bridge closure could effect the community’s safety in the event of fire or other catastrophic event occurring north of the bridge. With more than 20 volunteers living on the south side of the bridge, the departments manpower would be dangerously limited unless accommodations were made—at great expense— for volunteers to stay in shifts in the Chestertown area.
This short discussion sums up many of the community’s safety concern’s over the four week bridge closure.
Linda Donahue says
Maybe I am showing my lack of knowledge on the logistics of this thing, but why can’t they do one lane at a time. I’m sure it would be slower and more costly but at least it would not be dangerous
James Dissette says
The bridge has to be raised completely to complete the maintenance painting. So says the SHA.
Judith Hughes says
Thanks Fire Chief Neal for pressing on the dangers and potential consequences of the bridge closure. You said it right and clear. The risk of a 4-week closure of the bridge not only seriously impacts the economy of the Chestertown community, but more, the protection of our Queen Anne county fellow residents. Unacceptable! The State of Maryland in coordination with the community of Chestertown needs to come up with better plan.
Gren Whitman says
Present bridge is already obsolete, and through traffic is a big problem in Chestertown.
Another plan could be: (1) Keep one bridge lane open for obvious safety and economic reasons, (2) Paint what can be reached with bascules closed, (3) AND PLAN FOR FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW FIXED BRIDGE AND BYPASS.
Norton, Richard V. says
This is an opportunity for our mayor to coalesce other leaders within our adjoining two counties on the issue of Bridge closing for ‘repairs”. Life and property is on the line if there is a bridge closure. Can Chestertown endure the national attention if a person should die for lack of prompt medical care over an issue of ‘bridge maintenance’. Can the State Highway Administration come up with alternatives?
1. The new paradigm is that Chestertown and surrounding municipalities are now a large socioeconomic district that cannot function safely with an old highway system using a drawbridge.
2. It is inconceivable that the bridge could not sit closed and idle indefinitely until this is resolved.
3. My personal opinion is that peoples of both counties insist on the implementation of the long delayed bypass route across the Chester River.
An unnecessary death from a long transport time to medical care would be a horrendous price to pay for the political wrangling that has been going on for years over the bypass route.
Act now at the Governors level; and resolve these problems promptly before the bridge is put out of use for ‘repairs’. Both counties are morally responsible for any loss of life of life or property as a result of this administrative decision. People must be held accountable.
Richard Norton,
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John Woodfield says
I would like the chiefs of the Kent and Queen Anne’s Rescue Squad, Church Hill Volunteer Fire Department and Chestertown Volunteer Fire Department to make the current box alarms public – exactly what is dispatched for a medical call in Kingstown? How about fire or rescue? I would like clarification specifically on the Queen Anne’s County box 5-12 area. Is Chestertown first due on this box area? While Chief Neal states that Queen Anne’s county will have this box area covered is it really acceptable that an area that is 1-2 minutes from Chestertown Fire Company will expect Church Hill to be first due or are they already?