Council to look at replacement bridge project
Local representatives are mulling a plan to replace pedestrian bridges across the city following a report to city council that recommends replacing one bridge each year at a total cost of just over $2 million.
The report was presented at city council’s executive committee meeting Tuesday, and outlines a plan to replace the eight pedestrian bridges, starting with the Sliding Hill Bridge at Little Red River Park. That bridge was demolished in 2013 following severe flooding in the area which damaged the structure and caused erosion to the embankment.
The report from city administration recommends replacing the bridges with pre-fabricated steel structures, designed to go across river or storm channels in case of high waters. The estimated costs for each new bridge varies between $200,000 and $330,000.
Nykol Miller, capital projects manager with the city said many of the pedestrian bridges are over 40 years old and in poor shape.