Newsday from New York, New York • 7

I New Approach for Williamsburg Roads, not bridge, the problem, experts now say By Molly Gordy The city plans to spend $350 million to renovate the Williamsburg Bridge, abandoning a 250-million plan that, engineers said, would have fixed the wrong things. It took the dty, state and federal governments four years and almost $25 million to reach that decision. The corroded 85-year-old Williamsburg Bridge was shut down for six weeks in April and May for emergency repairs, displacing 240,000 car, truck and subway travelers. It is still partially dosed. Mayor Edward I.

Koch announced the renovation plans yesterday, based on the recommendations of a special task force. The seven-year project calls for replacing the East River bridges approach roads and pedestrian walkways, but leaving its main span and cables in place. It supercedes a previously approved $250-million rehabilitation plan that would have done the exact opposite, repladng the bridges suspension cables while leaving its approaches and walkways intact. City Transportation Commissioner Ross Sandler said the about-face is based on a recent inspection by the engineering firm Steinman Boynton Gronquist and Birdsall that found the cables were in much better shape than expected, but the approaches were much worse. It was the latest chapter of a saga that began with a 1984 bridge inspection by the firm Ammann Whitney, and its subcontractor, the Stanford Research Institute.

Their conclusion: The Williamsburg Bridges suspension cables were rotting. The cost of that work: $2.2 million. In 1985, the city and state approved a $250-million cable replacement plan for the bridge, and hired Amman Whitney to do the design. Jackson Presses VP Issue By Marilyn Milloy and Marie Cocco Lob Angeles As Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, the Democrats all-but-certain presidential nominee, launched his official search for a running mate yesterday, the Rev.

Jesse Jackson was still refusing to concede the race while intensifying the pressure on the governor to offer him a place on the ticket. Dukakis, saying he would cast my net for and wide in his search, held firm to his position that Jack-son was merely among many candidates who would be considered. The two men thus helped set the stage for a possible public stand-off that some political experts say could hurt the Democrats if it is not resolved soon. Dukakis said his vice-presidential search would be headed by bis national campaign chairman Paul Brountus, and that as yet there was no list of possible nominees. In an apparent move to squelch speculation, he warned supporters that he and Broun tas would be the only re- liable sources of information on the vice presidency.

Brountas said later that when a list of possible running mates is developed, it would prob-indude 15 to 25 names. He that business and labor leaders Please see JACKSON on Page 25 UFI Photo Jesse Jackson Please see BRIDGE on Page 25 House Axes Health Bill For Elderly By Jack Sirica Newsday Washington Bureau Washington The House of Representatives yesterday turned back an emotional plea by 87-year-old Rep. Claude Pepper (D-Fla.) and decisively killed debate on a measure that would have created a $28 Killitm system of home health care for the elderly. The 243 to 169 vote against a resolution that would have allowed Pepper's bill to come to the floor followed heavy lobbying by two powerful committee phwirmwn who churned the measure had circumvented House procedures by not passing through the appropriate committees. Proponents charged that they had used that claim as an excuse to kill the MIL The lopsided vote hum as the Senate voted 86-11 yesterday to approve a massive catastrophic health care bill ht.

would extend Medicare benefits to 32 million elderly Americans. That bill, previously parnwH by the House, would provide unlimited hospital wnl doctors care after annual deductibles, partial A skateboarding enthusiast makes a dangerous maneuver as he takes to the air above a cement wall at the Manhattan exit ramp of the Brooklyn Bridge yesterday at noontime. Please see CARE on Page 23.