Construction crews will relocate a footbridge during a Park Road bridge replacement project to save about $15,000 during work at an Independence Road project.

City Engineer Jonathan Zimmermann said the Park Road bridge is in the worst condition of any bridge in the city limits. He estimates that project will cost about $450,000 to replace the bridge that is located near the city's Splash-N-Swimplex.

"There is a footbridge near the Park Road Bridge, and on the bridge they are constructing a walkway - it will make footbridge unnecessary," said Zimmermann.

He added that the city will move the footbridge to Independence Drive while installing new sidewalks. The bridge is located south of Park Road. "There is a bridge near Rexam and it was going to cost a substantial amount of money to build a new bridge - so instead we relocating this bridge," said Zimmermann.

Zimmermann said the city has several approval stages before construction begins to replace the Park Road bridge.

He is waiting for approval for an easement from Sunset Nursing Center, then plans must be approved and the city must advertise for bids.

"There are a lot of steps," Zimmermann said. "I have been saying that work will begin this fall."

He added that the Independence Drive project is slated to begin a little later than the Park Road work.

The Independence Drive project is a 80-20 cost-share project with the state to install 10,600 feet of sidewalk along the road. The walkway will extend from Washington Avenue south to Highway 50 and Washington Avenue east to Highway 47. The estimated cost is $345,000 and the local match will be approximately $69,000.

Once the Independence Drive sidewalk is complete it will be a portion of a several mile-long loop of sidewalks and walkways that also include Washington Avenue and future plans to Main Street.

A Main Street project is scheduled for 2010-11 and also will be funded as a 80-20 cost-share project. The estimated $1.23 million project is expected to cost $245,000 locally and $980,000 at the federal level.

The city hired Cochran Engineering to seek a federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) grant. The grant will fund renovations to 2.2 miles of Main Street from Highway 47 to Springfield Avenue.

The scope of the project includes a 2-inch asphalt overlay, concrete base repairs, new sidewalks, bike path striping, signage and traffic signal improvements.

Cochran officials noted that sidewalks on Main Street do not meet Americans With Disabilities Act requirements and also are tripping hazards; the plan is consistent with the long-range city plans and the pavement is in need of repair.