FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Members of the Bridge Day Commission have voted to cancel Bridge Day 2021 in Fayette County. The voice vote was unanimous on Wednesday, members citing concerns tied to the coronavirus.
The event sustained several setbacks in recent weeks, including representatives of BASE jumpers saying last week the group would not participate, citing health and safety concerns with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as organizational event issues.
On Sept. 24, Gov. Jim Justice’s chief of staff questioned the timing of the chair of the festival’s request for additional state resources. The chair, Becky Sullivan, sent a letter to Gov. Jim Justice on Sept. 20 asking for numerous items including thousands of masks, two dozen hand sanitizer stations for each shuttle stop, additional stand-up medical facility with appropriate staff for triage and orthopedic purposes, and extra volunteers to help make it a safer environment.
Justice’s chief of staff Brian Abraham responded to Sullivan by saying her request comes at a late date and cited “lack of planning” for this year’s event.
Earlier in the day on Wednesday, the Fayette County Commission said it had voted to cancel the event and its representative on the commission would cast its vote.
The one-day festival on the New River Gorge Bridge was scheduled for October 16. The event traditionally attracts thousands of visitors.