Newsday from New York, New York • 3

Trump Offers to Fix Bridge lell Even Lend Money By Alexis Jetter Donald Trump says that fixing the Williamsburg Bridge is his dream project and that he is willing to pay for it, at least temporarily. And the developer boasted yesterday that he could do it faster and for less money than the city. After a morning tour of the bridge, Trump said he would lend the $250 million the city has estimated repairs would cost, but Baid it would probably cost less. The city should then build a new bridge farther north, linking midtown Manhattan with points east, Trump said, standing at the Manhattan entrance of the battered bridge. The whole demography of this city has changed, Trump said, arguing against replacing the Williamsburg Bridge with a new span built alongside it.

People have moved uptown. A new bridge is needed between the Williamsburg Bridge and the 59th Street Bridge to service a whole area of town thats not covered. Mayor Edward I. Koch was quick to pour water on the idea. Building bridges is not Trumps forte, the mayor said.

Before he goes into exotic development, we would hope he gives us the benefit of his skill, which happens to be housing, Koch said. After he has done some nonprofit housing, affordable housing, we can talk about other things. But Trump said the mayors resistance didnt trouble him. He said 'No thank you on Wollman Rink, Trump said. But there was an outcry because people were tired of waiting seven years to go ice skating Please see BRIDGE on Page 26 Plan Stirs Protest By Michael Moss Donald Trumps suggestion for a new East River bridge to mid-town Manhattan arouses about as much local enthusiasm as did Westway, the infamous Hudson River highway idea that drowned in a popular and legal quagmire.

It knocks my socks off to think about another bridge, Sandi Simmons, spokeswoman for a group already busy fighting the mammoth Riverwalk development project at FDR Drive from 16th to 24th Streets, said sarcastically. Queens and Brooklyn community leaders were even less ecstatic. Its bad enough we have oil tinder us, pollution around us and traffic on top, said Vincent Abate of Community Board 1 in Greenpoint-Williamsburg, where a new Trump bridge could go. Even those opposed to new construction concede Trump has reason to envision a bridge, considering that motoring into Manhattan become a nightmare. But adding a new bridge isnt the answer, agreed planners, residents and people who remember the last great East River Crossing Battle Royale 26 years ago.

fTh finning a landing site likely would raise armies of critics, with mmmnnitian ready 1 fight at the mere mention that their area might he home to one end of a bridge. The Manhattan side is filled with hospital clusters and high-priced, dense housing. One would then have to put the cars using the bridge some place. Thats the biggest problem: Nawadajr XJUana Nieto Donald Trump, left, confers yesterday with Alfred DelliBovi on the bridge. NEWSDAY, FRIDAY, APRIL 22, -i Repairs Expected by April 29 Sydney Schanbergs Column, Page 93 By Alexis Jetter Subway trains could roll again on the Williamsburg Bridge next week, and traffic may return shortly afterward, city transportation officials said yesterday.

Nearly 90 percent of the support beams undertying the and lines have been inspected, said Sam Schwartz, chief engineer for the city Department of Transportation. Subway examination and repair were given top priority, and cure expected to be completed by next Friday, he said. So for, only seven flags structural failures that require immediate Iron workers yesterday hoisted supplementary floor beams under the bridge at Ridge Street in Manhattan, kicking them into place around five cor- roded beams. Schwartz said the old beams were 2 not protected by splash guards safety shields to stop water accumulation on the girders. With the accumulated salt, water and dirt, its consuming itself, he said.

But repairs are proceeding on sched- ule, Schwartz said. And if inspectors find no cracks under the roadbeds next week, at least some of the traffic lanes could be reopened thereafter. 1988 repair have been found under the railroad tracks, and all should be fixed in coming days, Schwartz said. At least 52 severely corroded beams have been found underlying the bridges roadwqys, however, posing a larger repair job. As many aa 80 flags are wpwbxl before the examination is completed, said Victor Rosa, a spokes-' man for the department.

i Please see REACTION on Page 26.