Update on Riverside Bridge: Bicyclists & pedestrians banned from bridge while county mulls next move

An update to our recent story about the efforts to save the Riverside Bridge in Ozark, Missouri, for bicycle and pedestrian use, from Kris Dyer of Save the Riverside Bridge: 

Save the Riverside Bridge

Looks like the fencing that the county put up on both sides of the bridge will stay because they passed the ordinance today. Pedestrians and bicyclists are not allowed on the bridge and there will be a $500 fee for violators. The Commission stated that they must do this to protect the county in case someone were to be hurt walking or bicycling on the bridge. We asked that instead of fencing could they put up signs that say "enter at your own risk" and something about how the county would not be liable if persons that entered were hurt. The county said that they would still be liable even if signs were put up and have to put up the fencing to protect the county from being liable.

Commissioner Lapaglia did express that he is also putting up the fencing to protect the bridge itself so that people will not take pieces of the bridge while we are waiting to raise the money to renovate the bridge for pedestrian use. He also stated that he does not want the bridge to be torn down in his opinion. 

Read more details from Save the Riverside Bridge here.

Funding options
The county has a number of options if wants to re-use the bridge for bicycle and pedestrian use. Even though the county's budget is tight ($700,000 deficit this year according to the article above, on a county budget that is usually about $20-22 million), the county could still use its bonding authority or find some funds in a future year's budget.  The county has a large budget, part of that budget is dedicated to roads and bridges, and so whether or not the county allocates some of that funding to this bridge is a matter of priorities, not a matter of whether it has money or not.

In addition, the Save the Riverside Bridge committee will likely be able to raise some funds to help the process--similar community groups in similar situations have been able to do so.

Other grant funds are available to help projects like this--it seems to be perfect for Transportation Enhancement funding, which is available through MoDOT District 8 and has periodic funding rounds, or Recreational Trails Funding, which usually has a funding round each year.  Other grant funding may be available as well.

The importance of the bridge as a bicycle/pedestrian connection
The bridge is not only historic and scenic, the detours for bicyclists and pedestrians are significant--the next nearest bridges are more than a mile in either direction, and the main connection across the river in Ozark is on a busy state highway (14/Business 65).  According to a recent Christian County Headliner article:

“The bridge being used for pedestrian use—this is still our goal,” Dyer said. “We are still raising money and we are still needing a lot more information.”

It’s a goal for Carol and Bob Noble, too, who have property on the northwest side of the bridge. The fence poses a major inconvenience. Their daughter lives just across it on the other side. It used to be a short five-minute walk, now it’s a 15-minute drive.

“It does pose a problem for us,” Noble said. “My daughter lives across the bridge, it is frustrating that we have to drive 15 minutes when we used to walk. She is on a security list as a close neighbor. It is just a pain in the neck.”

And a pain for some outdoor enthusiasts as well.

“My husband and I work out and our personal trainer is a biker,” Noble said. “He was upset because that’s their bike route. There were bikers who lifted the bikes over and climbed the fence.”

How you can help
If you'd like to contact the Christian County Commission to let them know you support converting the Riverside Bridge for bicycle & pedestrian use, here is the contact information:

Christian County Commission
100 West Church St., Room 100
Ozark, MO 65721

Phone 417-582-4300
E-mail: countycommission@christiancountymo.gov

Make a donation in support of the bridge
Send checks to Community Foundation of the Ozarks and put on the memo line "Save Riverside Bridge Fund"
425 E. Trafficway
Springfield, MO 65806

Or go to Community Foundation of the Ozarks donationa page to donate by credit/debit card online.  On the donate page be sure to type in "Save Riverside Bridge Fund"
 

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