BRIDGE … Currently, the pedestrian section of the Garnsey Avenue Bridge in Metamora remains closed. The section was closed last year after being deemed unsafe.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The Garnsey Avenue Bridge in Metamora saw its pedestrian bridge closed last year after being deemed unsafe.
Since then, work has been done to see what it would take to fix the pedestrian bridge. This fix has come in at an estimated $40,000.00. Normally this would not be as much of an issue.
However, the bridge itself, according to Mayor Cathy Mossing, just passed its last inspection. Even with passing, the bridge itself is very close to needing to be replaced and may not pass inspection next year. Therein lies the issue administrative officials in Metamora have been facing.
At a cost of $40,000.00, Mayor Mossing explained that it is not fiscally responsible to rebuild the pedestrian crossing section of the bridge, when it is going to have to get torn back out within the next few years. This is because reconstruction of the bridge will require the pedestrian section to be torn out as well.
If the bridge fails inspection within the near future, grant opportunities will open up and allow the village to apply for help with the construction costs.
Emergency infrastructure grants were looked at recently for the pedestrian portion, but those grants require the item being built to have a minimum life of seven years, which it would not have.
Contact was also made with the school in order to find out how many children the closing of the pedestrian side effects. The number, Mayor Mossing explained, was stated around one to three.
The school was asked to drive a bus down Garnsey to pick up students, with the school gladly offering to help. Unfortunately, the area is too tight for a bus to maneuver properly.
Multiple other options have been explored, including the possibility of making the bridge available for only one-way travel, with the other side of the road being marked for pedestrians.
However, Mayor Mossing explained that, at this time, there are no plans to move forward with any changes. The village attorney has informed the village that there is no law requiring a pedestrian section on a bridge.
With that in mind, the village will wait to see whether or not the bridge passes inspection in July. If it does not pass, grants will be explored which normally take anywhere between one to three years.