The City of Springfield will host an informational open house 4-6 p.m. Thursday, March 29 at White River Brewing Company (505 W. Commercial Street) to gather public input needed to complete the final design phase of the proposed rehabilitation of the 116-year-old Jefferson Avenue Footbridge.
Attendees will learn about the design process and have the opportunity to provide feedback on the design of ADA compliant facilities and an updated lighting scheme.
This is a come-and-go event. There will be no formal presentation.
Following public input gathering, the rehabilitation team will present their final design and proposed funding plan to City Council for approval.
Background
Springfield’s 116 -year old footbridge was closed March 1, 2016 after Public Works inspectors found corrosion and steel loss in the north support column. While the bridge was not in imminent danger, it was deemed in the public's best interest to close the bridge to conduct a full evaluation and determine repair options.
The City contracted with Great River Engineering to conduct an in-depth structural evaluation of the local footbridge. The deficiencies identified in the evaluation included:
- One of every three primary members (36.4%) do not have adequate capacity and need repaired or strengthened.
- Six of the 10 vertical columns in the south approach need to be strengthened.
- The stairs on both north and south approaches need to be replaced. ADA accessibility also needs to be incorporated.
- The paint system is failing in numerous locations. It is recommended that the existing paint be removed to bare metal and that a three-coat paint system be applied. This approach to the rehabilitation will aid in impeding the corrosion and deterioration of the structure, thereby lengthening the life of the bridge.
For more information on the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge, visit springfieldmo.gov/footbridge.
For media inquiries, contact Communication Coordinator Kristen Milam at 573-819-3713 or [email protected].