A pair of projects involving the pedestrian and vehicular traffic near and on the Virginia Avenue Bridge should under way in the next few weeks, according to Bridgeport City Engineer Tom Brown. Brown confirmed those projects discussed by City Manager Kim Haws during a work session of Bridgeport City Council that should not only enhance the ability to navigate the roadway, but also provide a consistent look with the city’s downtown.

 

Perhaps the main project involves the creation of a new pedestrian steel walking bridge that will be directly adjacent to bridge, on the side of the Hot Rod Shop. The bridge will run from Water Street to Railroad Street. Brown said the bridge will be five feet wide and approximately 100 feet long.

 

“We are doing that in house for the most part, but we’ll have some contractor help,” said Brown. “The one thing about this walking bridge is that it will not be attached to the existing bridge on Virginia Avenue.”

 

The bridge will be in the Division of Highways Right of Way. The reason for that was to avoid any potential issues with securing property to do the project. As for not attaching the pedestrian bridge to the one for vehicles, Brown said that was done in consideration of any potential future upgrades or potential weight issues with the bridge.

“Doing it this way takes any potential issue such as those out of the equation,” Brown said.

 

While the pedestrian bridge will help safely maneuver those walking through the city in much safer manner, another project along and around the bridge will make some much-needed aesthetic improvements. Perhaps the most noticeable will be the installation of four street lights, one at each corner of the bridge. The lighting will match the decorative lighting that is part of the city’s Main Street streetscape.

 

On the bridge itself, several of the curbs will be repaired. Currently, there are issues were the concrete is flaking off of the curbs and there is also some concrete wear on the existing bridge sidewalks.

 

“We’ll make that better,” said Brown.

 

Additional upgrades beyond the concrete will also be handled. Several of the old guardrails will be replaced.

So why the improvements to the DOH property?

 

“Quite frankly, those issues aren’t a high priority to the Division of Highways,” said Brown. “It is a priority to our administration and to Council.”

 

Another project will enhance the safety of those leaving the Virginia Avenue sidewalk and heading down the steps into the parking lot by the tennis courts at the Benedum Civic Center. New stairs will be put in place of the existing ones.

 

“They’re not in bad shape, but it could look a whole lot better,” said Brown.

 

The new pedestrian bridge and the guardrails will be black. Brown said the color is being down to match the existing streetscape theme.

Work should begin in relatively short order. Brown said in the next two to three weeks, work will begin on the pilings and the purchase order has already been handled for the bridge itself.

 

“It should be under construction in the next few weeks. It will take four to six weeks to actually complete construction on the bridge itself,” Brown said. “If all goes well, it should be ready by the first of April or mid-April.”

 

The pedestrian bridge should not cause any issues relating to traffic flows in the often busy section of the city. However, when work begins on the curbs, sidewalks and guardrails of the existing bridge, Brown said there could be some minor interruptions.

 

“When we’re doing stuff with the bridge, particularly when we’re ready to pour concrete, we may have some one lane traffic,” Brown said. “We’ll look at the best way to minimize the impacts during high traffic periods, particularly as it relates to traffic during school traffic.”

 

The pedestrian bridge project will cost between $100,000 and $120,000 depending on various factors once work begins. The other improvements are likely to be slightly under the six-figure range, Brown said. He added that funds for the projects have already been approved.

 

“This is something we’ve been considering for some time,” Haws said during the work session. “It will enhance that area of the city.”

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows the area where the new pedestrian bridge will be situated. Middle photo shows the erosion of the concrete on the existing sidewalks on the Virginia Street Bridge, while the bottom photo is of the steps that will be replaced as part of the projects expected to start in the next several weeks.