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Anticipation grows as dam breach nears Everything's set; it's time to blow the dam Date published: 2/23/2004 By RUSTY DENNEN A quarter second. When Army divers throw a switch to trigger explosives rigged to blow out a portion of Embrey Dam at 12:05 p.m. today, that's how long it will take. It'll be a fittingly quick end to more than over a decade of efforts by an unusual coalition of environmentalists, scientists and government officials to bring down the aging dam to allow migratory fish upstream. For the first time since the mid-1800s, the Rappahannock River will once again run free from its headwaters to the Chesapeake Bay. E-Day, as it may become known to future generations of Fredericksburgers, was heralded by the arrival of TV news crews and their satellite-receiver-fitted trucks over the weekend. Yesterday, city workers were setting up the VIP area on the riverbank along Fall Hill Avenue where U.S. Sen. John Warner will deliver the keynote speech, and preparing for the crowd. Some people wanting to get a last-minute look at the dam got a little too close, and had to be shooed away by Stafford County deputies who are patrolling a restricted area around it. The dam blast may also trigger some revelry: One Normandy Village resident put up a sign proclaiming a "Dam Blasted Party." Spectators are expected to begin staking out viewing spots early today, and traffic restrictions will be in effect. A portion of Fall Hill Avenue will be closed beginning at 8 a.m., and vehicles will be detoured through Normandy Village. People wanting to view the breach are encouraged to get there early; there is no parking in the vicinity of the dam. Parking is available at Old Mill Park, which will open at 8 a.m.; FREDericksburg Regional Transit buses will be shuttling people to the viewing area along Fall Hill Avenue every 15 minutes, beginning at 8:30 a.m. An alternative to the outdoor venue is the National Guard Armory on the U.S. 1 Bypass, where the events will be shown, live, on a large-screen television. The armory can accommodate about 600 people. Cox Communications will also broadcast the event live on its local cable-TV access channels. TV stations in Richmond and Washington are expected to carry coverage of the blast in their noon and evening newscasts.
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