Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – Years after closing an unsafe bridge in the neighborhood north of West Beach Boulevard, the city is moving forward with a plan to repurpose the bridge and the surrounding area. A traffic study years ago deemed the bridge “unnecessary” to traffic flow in the neighborhood and a later grant application for funding help fell through because the bridge was a few feet short of meeting the grant criteria.

During a council work session on March 16, the council discussed a plan to rebuild the West Fourth Street bridge as a pedestrian bridge with other amenities. It has been closed to vehicular traffic since 2008.

“This proposal includes the bridge approach, hardscaping and landscaping for this section from West Second Avenue to West Third Avenue,” a memo from Construction Manager Clint Colvin states. The proposal will likely come up for a vote at the regular March 23 council meeting.

Jade Consulting, the same firm that devised a previous plan to make the bridge usable for vehicular traffic, is being considered for the design and professional services for a pedestrian-only bridge.

“The city has received correspondence from several citizens opposed to reopening the bridge to vehicular traffic,” Colvin’s memo states. “A proposal was requested from Jade to provide construction documents for a pedestrian-only bridge. This proposal will include a full set of construction documents for the removal and replacement of the existing bridge with a prefabricated pedestrian bridge.”

Colvin recommended the council approve the contract for $44,900 and said the design should be completed in two months and construction to begin as soon as possible.