FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Following the recent $8 million state budget appropriation, the City of Springfield is gathering information to determine next steps and an anticipated timeline for moving 
forward with the rehabilitation of the historic Jefferson Avenue Footbridge.
Immediately following the announcement, the City project team began coordinating with the Missouri Department of Transportation and other state agencies to learn more about requirements and processes to access the funds. This information-gathering phase will help determine any necessary tweaks to project plans and a proposed timeline for advertising the project for contractor bids.
The $8 million approved through the state budget is earmarked specifically for rehabilitation of the historic bridge and cannot be used for improvements to the Footbridge Plaza space or other infrastructure. Public Works does not anticipate using any previously discussed funding for the bridge portion of the project.
There is currently no funding for the full design or construction of any updates to the Footbridge Plaza. Project team members are assessing previously budgeted funds to determine what sources could qualify for future improvements to the Footbridge Plaza.
The City plans to host an informational public meeting in late summer or early fall to update Commercial Street stakeholders and the community on a path forward and to collect input on future footbridge plaza improvement needs.
For more information, visit springfieldmo.gov/footbridge. To sign up to receive regular project update emails, visit https://www.springfieldmo.gov/list.aspx?ListID=461 or subscribe to the “Commercial Street Historic District Project Updates” via the "Notify Me" tab on the City's Webpage at springfieldmo.gov
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For more information, contact Communication Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713 or [email protected].