NEWPORT — What's in a name? Newport and Covington are asking the public that question when it comes to naming the new bridge over the Licking River that will link the cities.

        The $10.2 million bridge — a replacement for the old Shortway Bridge at 12th and 11th streets — will be completed by the end of the month. But it could debut without a name.

        Covington and Newport city officials are seeking suggestions from citizens to name the bridge by clicking on questionnaires on their Web sites.

        Nominations will be accepted at www.cityofnewportky.org or www.covingtonky.com until Sept. 21.

ABOUT THE BRIDGE

• Scheduled for completion: Sept. 30.   • Estimated total cost: $10,154,000.   • Main materials: Steel, concrete.   • New safety features: Curve of old bridge will be gone, concrete barriers on both sides of bridge, 1.32-yard shoulder.   • Driving lanes: Four, plus one 1.65-yard wide pedestrian walk.   • Pick-up bridge: Same as original bridge: Covington, 12th Street; Newport, 11th Street.   • Detour until completion: Fourth Street Bridge between Covington and Newport.

        About half of the approximately 50 letters sent to Newport's city manager's office have asked that the bridge be named after the late Dr. Alvin C. Poweleit, according to Michele Ralston, a city spokesman.

        The Fort Thomas Retired Men's Club wrote one of the letters nominating Dr. Poweleit, a World War II veteran, a Covington doctor and member of their club.

        The bridge should be named after Dr. Poweleit because of the “many acts of humanitarian service that he did over the years, including all of his comrades in the Bataan Death March (World War II) who lived because of his treatment of them,” the men's club wrote. “Also, many northern Kentucky residents received treatment that they would not have gotten otherwise without the generosity of Dr. Alvin Poweleit.”

        The Kentucky State Legislature also passed a resolution this year that the bridge should be named after Dr. Poweleit, who died in July 1997, citing his involvement in the Bataan march, in which prisoners were allegedly tortured. and beaten. before being taken to Camp O'Donnell.

        Other names suggestions include Licking Valley Girl Scout Bridge, The Veterans' Bridge, Jim Simpson Bridge and The Connector.

        “It is not because he was a member of this organization, however, that we feel he should be honored,” wrote the men's club.

        Meanwhile, The bridge project is on schedule and is sticking close to its original $10.2 million budget. However, Greg Kreutzjan (CQ), district construction engineer for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, said the depart ment had recently received a request for a $200,000(CQ) fundingincrease so the pilings can be driven deeper into the riverbed — a need that Mr. Kreutzjan said was not un expected.

        Once the nominations have been compiled, city officials say, representatives from the two cities will work together to select a name. The joint nomination will then be submitted to the fiscal courts of Kenton and Campbell counties and to finally, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for final approval.

        Newport City Manager Phil Ciafardini said that the various media and some legislators had been favoring names for the new bridge, but that the naming of the new bridge was not going to be based on popularity.

        “The cities of Covington and Newport will come together for a name we feel is suitable for a connection between these two cities,” Mr. Ciafardini said.

        Rep. Jim Callahan, D-Campbell County, said that if the structure is not officially named by the time the legislature convenes in January, . 2002, then it the legislature would make a decision on the new bridge's name.

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