FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The sounds of cheering, music and opening parachutes echoed through the New River Gorge for Bridge Day 2017 Saturday.
Traffic on U.S. Route 19 near the New River Gorge Bridge was shut down by West Virginia State Police at 7 in the morning. Lines began to form of eager people waiting for the opening of the bridge to pedestrians at 9. Once the barriers opened, many rushed to the bridge to catch pictures of the lingering morning fog underneath.
This year was special for the annual celebration as it honored the 40th anniversary of the bridge’s opening on October 22, 1977. Several keynote speakers were on hand to help commemorate the event on a stage close to the bridge’s north end. U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito said Bridge Day is special for her. Her father, 28th and 30th West Virginia Governor Arch Moore, is noted for the idea to construct the bridge.
“My dad always said he held his breath when he went across the bridge”, said Capito. “It wasn’t because he was scared, it was because of the beauty and wonder of it. My dad is smiling today.”
Other speakers included U.S. Representative Evan Jenkins who took time to walk around the bridge and thank people for coming. To him, the iconic structure is far more than a record-setting bridge.
“Yes it’s shorter travel time, yes it’s incredible vistas, yes it’s recreation and its tourism. But it for us is a symbol of strength and power and resilience. People around the world see this bridge and know that’s West Virginia strong.”
Several welders and contractors who built the bridge attended the 40th anniversary ceremony. West Virginia Department of Transportation Secretary Tom Smith applauded the “founding fathers” of the bridge.
“They understood what transportation could do. They very aggresively mounted a program to build the interstates, the Appalachian corridors and indeed this bridge today.”
An estimated 300 brave individuals BASE (Building, Antenna, Span, and Earth) jumped from the bridge. The technique they used to accomplish the daring feet differed. A platform, known as the “diving board” rested on top of the guardrail providing a roughly 876 feet drop. Others chose the catapult, which launched participants far above the height of the bridge before falling.
The occasional whir of a motor signaled a “scissorlift jump” was coming. Crowds gathered with phones pointed in the air as the lift added about 30 additional feet to the jump. BASE jumper Michelle Kasper described what goes through her head when her toes reach the edge. Kasper is from Canada and starting a BASE jumping tour. Two questions in particular race through her mind.
“Why am I here? What am I doing? Every jump is nerve-racking. I’m still newer to the sport, but the second you leave that edge it’s totally worth it. Just taking it all in (and) watching that ground coming up at you is quite an exhilarating feeling.”
Dustin Pyle had just completed a jump and was en route to complete another one when he stopped to speak with MetroNews. He was with a group from Arkansas who all agreed on one important piece of advice.
“Don’t hit the trees. Just focus on what you need to do and really try to get everything out that you need to. Focus on exactly what you need to do for the jump.”
For those who did not wish to jump but wanted a thrilling experience, there were other activities occurring underneath the bridge. Eight repelling lines offered a breath-taking yet slower-paced way to take in the scenery. On the northern end of the bridge was a zipline running from the bridge’s catwalk to Fayette Station Road around 100 feet below.
In addition to statewide news coverage, the event received world-wide attention from several media outlets. CBS News and The Weather Channel were reporting live throughout the day. Snapchat, a popular social media application for sharing pictures, was on hand sending content to millions of subscribers worldwide on their “Bridge Day” story.
Most who attended came to watch the jumpers and take the once per year opportunity to walk across the bridge. Vendors on each end of the bridge provided hot food, cold drinks and handmade memorabilia.
Those with a sweet tooth were in luck as over 1,000 locally-made cupcakes were distributed to celebrate the bridge’s 40th anniversary. As they were handed out, Department of Transportation Secretary Tom Smith concluded the 40th anniversary ceremony reminding everyone of the bridge’s impact on more than just West Virginia.
“It’s just almost unfathomable to understand how much this bridge and this corridor had on the whole area here, and the greater region and the eastern part of the United States. We need to savor and celebrate the success of this remarkable, historic structure. I’ll invite our many guests from out of town to come back to West Virginia.”
Bridge Day 2018 will be held on Saturday, October 20.