New River Bridge - Catwalk Tours

[base428]

Just when you thought BASE jumping couldn't get any worse for us, they're proposing whuffo catwalk tours under the New River Gorge Bridge...

http://www.dominionpost.com/a/news/2002/03/06/ar/

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Catwalk tours proposed for New River Gorge Bridge

FAYETTEVILLE (AP) -- Thrillseekers and sightseers may soon get a chance to walk across the catwalk under the New River Gorge Bridge.

The state Division of Highways has signed a contract for a private company to give guided walks on the catwalk under the Fayette County bridge's roadbed, DOH Deputy Commissioner Norman Roush said Monday.

Matt Darpli and his company, Bridge Climb USA, are to develop a plan with security details, admission prices and the state's share of the profits, and submit the plan to the DOH. Another contract still must be signed.

People taking part in the proposed tours would wear jumpsuits fastened to cables for safety while they walk across the catwalk under the 3,000-foot-long bridge, which stands 876 feet above the river.

''The guy's got a great idea,'' said Roush, adding that Darpli came up with the proposal after seeing people walk over the arch bridge in Sydney during the 2000 Summer Olympics in Australia.

Darpli promoted a pilot project with the West Virginia Development Office.

''We have encouraged him,'' Tourism Commissioner Alisa Bailey said.

Fayette County Sheriff Bill Laird said he learned of the contract last week.

''I was a little surprised,'' Laird said. ''That's a public structure. I assumed you don't bungee-jump from the Capitol.''

Bridge security has become a major issue recently.

Laird's deputies have watched the bridge more closely since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and the annual Bridge Day festivities were canceled last October.

Laird has also expressed concern over the number of recent deaths by people jumping off the bridge -- four in the past 14 months.

Safety is an issue with the proposed tours as well, Roush said.

''We're going into it very cautiously,'' he said.

The catwalk would also be modified, Roush said.

Meanwhile, since the tours would begin and end on National Park Service property, Darpli must get a permit from the Park Service.

The Park Service is working with Darpli, who would like to start the tours this summer, said Calvin Hite, the New River Gorge National River superintendent at Glen Jean.

[guest]

those trap doors on the catwalk could make for some fun. }>

[Tom B]

Check Out

[http://www.bridgeclimb.com.au/]

p.s - lots mor esecurity cameras, razor wire all over the place, night and day tours virtually every day, etc. Just need to be more creative!! ;-)

[guest]

Now i assume that all these Tourists will have to provide the authorities with there social security number, address, car registration etc etc etc at least a month in advance of any trip so they can be checked out and their lives put on a national database just incase they are a treat. or just because they wish to go on the bridge by foot. i would not wish to stop traffic and get all their detais even though a truck would pose more of a threat to the bridge than a person.

daedalusx(

[guest]

from what i understand, the BDC will be requiring "ALL" who go onto the bridge some sort of ID check and they will not allow any kind of bags, baby strollers etc on the bridge period. sounds like to much fun for me. i'll be heading to twin falls with all my other friends. WV has been played out by the "man". i hope they can get it together some day, it used to be a lot of fun.

SC Jumper