Dead in the water, or in this case above it, is how one could describe efforts to save the Lindsay Lane bridge in Criglersville.
Since its closure in August of 2020, folks have talked about the nostalgic swinging bridge where children have played, runners have jogged and others have crossed to access their homes during times of high water. There have been conversations about how to save it, what it would cost and who would be responsible for it. Occasionally, a holiday decoration appeared on the closed sign.
In June, supervisors voted 3-2 to demolish it. However, it’s still standing.
In order to demolish the bridge, VDOT needs rights of entry from each of the three affected landowners who own the separate parcels of land the bridge sits on. At least one has voiced support for saving the bridge. Criglersville resident Marty McGetrick has also voiced support for saving the bridge.
McGetrick brought up the issue of the bridge to Madison County Supervisors at their first meeting in January. At the time, McGetrick said he wanted to save the bridge, but really thought the issue should be led by the county, not a private citizen. He said the bridge could be a liability issue as it now sits, boarded up and continually deteriorating.
“For this matter to go forward, you guys have to step up to the plate,” McGetrick said. “I’m not an agent of the county, I don’t have leverage.”
McGetrick said he’d be willing to help, but only if the supervisors led the cause. Doing so would require the board to rescind its previous desire to demolish the bridge, finding the funding to repair it, obtaining the necessary rights-of-way and determining who would own it and fund repairs in the future.
“I think everyone here understands the history of the bridge and of VDOT throwing the bridge at us, that’s where we’re at,” board of supervisors chairman Clay Jackson said. “The board has taken a vote on this and it doesn’t want to own the bridge.”
The matter was again revisited two weeks later, but with no solid information as to who would take over the structure and its future upkeep, the discussion was ended.
“The board has voted on this,” Jackson said. “The real thing we have here is nostalgia. I don’t see any reason to add it back to the agenda unless a board member sees it as an issue to bring back up. We were looking for a solidified plan that didn’t come. There’s no reason to keep talking about it.”
And with the matter closed, the bridge still sits.
