Southside may offer best views for RVA Fireworks

Sunday’s RVA fireworks show will close Belle Isle, the pedestrian bridge, and Robert E. Lee Bridge are all within the safety perimeter and will be closed to all traffic, pedestrians and bikers included.  Even paddlers need to be outside this perimeter for their own safety, according to Venture Richmond. Biking to the inagrual RVA Fireworks […]

June 29, 2011; 6:36 AM • by Phil Riggan

Sunday’s RVA fireworks show will close Belle Isle, the pedestrian bridge, and Robert E. Lee Bridge are all within the safety perimeter and will be closed to all traffic, pedestrians and bikers included.  Even paddlers need to be outside this perimeter for their own safety, according to Venture Richmond.

Biking to the inagrual RVA Fireworks show would seem like a great option, but if you’re coming from the south bank of the James, you’d better cross the river before 5 p.m., or you’ll have to either stay on the Manchester side or go down to the Manchester Bridge. In reality, the south bank might provide the best vantage point, as the fireworks will be in view with the Richmond skyline as a backdrop.

The Floodwall Walk on the south bank of the James River will be a fantastic vantage point for walkers who can’t make it across the Manchester Bridge, according to Venture Richmond. The upper entrance to the Manchester Wall (from Suntrust parking lot) will be closed as a restricted area.  But that access via the Floodwall and the little parking lot located under the Manchester Bridge will be open.

The fireworks are scheduled to be launched at about 9:30 p.m. from a concrete pad immediately east of the ramp that winds down from the pedestrian bridge on the east end of Belle Isle. That area is immediately east of the Lee Bridge, thus the need to close the bridge to all traffic.

People need to plan to be off Belle Isle by 5 p.m.  According to Venture Richmond, signs were posted on and around Belle Isle as of Tuesday notifying visitors of this closure and police and park employees will be patrolling the island starting at about 4 p.m. to get people off of Belle Isle. Also, no pets!

RVA Fireworks on the James is a FREE “Patriotic Family Fun” event that will feature performances by SPARC (School of Performing Arts in the Richmond Community), the Richmond Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Richmond Ballet’s “Minds in Motion.” Food vendors will be on Brown’s Island and the public is invited to bring a blanket or lawn chair to enjoy music during the evening and see the state’s largest fireworks display provided by Grucci.

Brown’s Island in Downtown Richmond opens at 6 p.m., entertainment begins at 7:30 p.m., fireworks to begin at approximately 9:30 p.m. More, see www.fireworksonthejames.com

June 29, 2011 6:36 AM 0