Social media has been abuzz lately about the future of ‘bridge tenders’ for the St. Joseph CSX railroad bridge—the draw bridge that swings open and closed to allow trains to cross the River and boat traffic to navigate from the River out past the Pier and into Lake Michigan.
Historically, there have always been live operators controlling the bridge from a small shack-like structure which used to be on the bridge but more recently has been about a half block South along Vine Street. The operators communicate with boat traffic via marine radios and with trains on special frequencies set aside for such control traffic. They view the boat traffic via a video screen.
Some say that process isn’t much different than it would be if the operator was in a central CSX control point, probably somewhere in Indiana. Others maintain that a margin of safety would be lost and that both train and boat traffic might be slowed down by the loss of local bridge tenders.
There had been some ‘rumors’ floating around about the possible bridge tender change in recent months, with St. Joseph Harbormaster Michial Moran pointing out that there had been no official request or announcement from CSX about its plans. Then late last week, a CSX spokesperson told WSBT-22 News in South Bend that the railroad WOULD be seeking to make the change but has not filed the paperwork yet and has no firm timetable—just a plan.
That touched off a sharp reaction from some boaters, as well as many Facebook followers who don’t like change of any kind. They predicted ‘gloom and doom’ at the bridge if the change ever happened.
Harbormaster Moran sought to ‘calm the waters’, pointing out on his social media page that there’s an orderly process for such a change. CSX must propose it, local officials and citizens have an opportunity to comment, and the US Coast Guard must concur for it to happen. So, it could be months, if not years from happening. Moran gave the impression he would personally oppose the move, but his position is more one of being an ‘ambassador’ and information source about the local harbor, not one of policymaking.
Presumably, St. Joseph and Benton Harbor city governments and Berrien County Commissioners could be asked to take a position on the bridge tender matter in the future. Other ‘interest groups’ and individual citizens would have an opportunity to do the same once CSX initiates the process. Until then, it’s an idea, but no one seems to know whether its time has come!
Stay tuned.
photo credit: HistoricBridges.org
