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Council discusses potential Jemison Park pedestrian bridge

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Mountain Brook City Council is discussing a potential pedestrian bridge to go over Shades Creek.

During pre-council at the Aug. 8 meeting, Walter Schoel of Schoel Engineering presented the council with preliminary plans for the bridge. The bridge would have a 65-foot span, be six feet wide and be built at the top of the banks either 10 feet upstream or downstream from the treads, or stepping blocks, that currently traverse the creek.

“That elevation is about six feet below the flood elevation, so we’re talking about a bridge that is still very much subject to being flooded,” Schoel said. “That’s not a great situation, but there’s no way to build it high enough to where it’s above the flood [elevation].”

Building this bridge, however, would also require removing the treads currently along the creek, Schoel said, because having both structures would too greatly obstruct the creekflow.

While an example photo provided in the pre-meeting agenda packet showed railings on both sides of the bridge, Schoel said that exact model would not work along Shades Creek, as it would catch too much debris. Council member Jack Carl asked what would be in place to ensure a baby carriage or small child would not fall off of the bridge, and Schoel said there would be a “substantial railing” and safety concerns could be taken into account in the final design.

Schoel said there were also concerns with debris coming down the creek and potentially “taking out” the bridge. While it could handle small debris, large trees could significantly damage it.

An estimate for the bridge was just under $37,000, with a cost for installation to be around $50,000. Council member Billy Pritchard said the possibility of a bridge came before the council because an anonymous donor said they would fund the bridge, which would allow individuals in wheelchairs, seniors or strollers to traverse the creek.

“The bridge,” Pritchard emphasized. “Not the construction, but the construction number was discussed at a much higher figure than this, so I guess the question is is there a way to get it constructed if someone is willing to donate the bridge?”

Carl said he believed the donated bridge was too great a possibility to pass up.

Schoel presented a plan for a flat bridge, but later noted an arched bridge is possible for a higher cost. The arched bridge would allow a little extra space for potential debris to pass through, and Council President Virginia Smith asked Pritchard to see if his donor would be OK with a higher cost for the bridge.

The next step for the bridge, Schoel said, would be to develop a final design and submit that to the city for final approval.

“If he gets a new estimate, and Billy’s anonymous donor is willing to go with it, can we say go with it?” Carl asked.

Smith said if the donor is firm with funding the bridge, a budget item for the installation of the bridge would be discussed.

“We’re proceeding forward, but we’re not agreeing to anything,” Smith said.

Also at the meeting, the council:

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