The Bridge That Will Never Be

899 Words2 Pages

When I was a small child, I remember my parents crossing the James River on the ferry in Surry County while taking my brother and me to Jamestown. At the time, I thought it was thrilling to ride the ferry. It was fun to stand out at the bow and watch as we went over the river to the other side where the boats are docked at Jamestown. We fed the birds on the front deck, and I also remember going up into the top of the ferry where they had a seated area that allowed someone to get out of the wind and still be able to see out. As an adult, I no longer have this glowing admiration for the ferry services in Surry. It never fails that when I am approaching the dock; the ferry is pulling away. Thereafter, it will be at least a thirty-minute wait for the next ferry to arrive. As well as, the actual ride across which could be an additional thirty minutes depending on which ferry pulls into the dock. One ferry is extremely slower than the other is. I will go to great lengths to avoid the ferry services to cross the James River to Williamsburg and will rather drive around Newport News than to use the ferry. My husband and I moved to Surry County two years ago, and it would be nice to be able to travel safely to Williamsburg without the added time it takes to cross the James River on the ferry. There has been talk over the years about replacing the ferry services with a bridge; however, those notions are always disregarded. The residents of Surry County would be better served if a bridge were put in place of the ferry at Scotland Wharf. In the first place, the ferry system is outdated and needs to be replaced by a bridge at Scotland Wharf, which would be safer for drivers crossing the James River. The ferry system has been in operation for... ... middle of paper ... ...ry for entertainment. Should Surry County want to keep the ferry, due to its historical aspect; the ferry could be made into an attraction that would take tourists around the James River for a fee. The ferry would then be an attraction and not a mode of transportation, also adding revenue for the county. In conclusion, a bridge being built in place of the ferry at Scotland Wharf would enable safer passage for drivers as well as a quicker route, which would benefit the residents of Surry. The tolls placed on the bridge would be a small price to pay to be able to get where someone is going safely and quickly. Surry residents would be able to travel to Williamsburg to shop instead of having to go over an hour to get to Newport News or Chesapeake. Finally, the additional revenue that is coming into Surry County at the local businesses would also benefit Surry residents.

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