The City of Springfield has begun construction on reconstruction and repair of the historic Jefferson Avenue Footbridge.  The bridge has been closed since 2016. 

The historic Jefferson Ave Footbridge in Springfield has been closed since 2016

The bridge is a historic structure that crosses a railroad yard with 13 tracks, connecting residential and downtown business districts, and allows pedestrians to avoid an approximately 1.5-mile detour.

More about the project from the City of Springfield:

The City of Springfield, alongside project partners Historic Commercial Street, BNSF Railway, Branco Enterprises and Great River Engineering, is embarking on the long-awaited construction phase of the rehabilitation of the historic structure.  

The project will consist of the complete rehabilitation of the existing steel bridge structure, involving the repair and replacement of existing deficient structural members, removal and replacement of wood decking, replacement of stairs, application of a new paint system and installation of lighting. Two elevators will be installed on the north and south approaches to bring the bridge into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and provide equitable access to all. . . .

ABOUT THE FOOTBRIDGE

Built in 1902, Springfield's Jefferson Avenue Footbridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 562-foot-long steel bridge allows pedestrians to cross 13 tracks of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) rail yard between Chase Street and Commercial Street.

The Jefferson Avenue Footbridge was the first of its kind to be built in Missouri and is unique in engineering and historic significance. The footbridge was built at public expense by The American Bridge Company of Pennsylvania. Its innovative multi-arched cantilever design made it possible for workers to construct the bridge by spanning out over the railroad tracks, thereby minimizing impacts to the rail lines below. The bridge also represents the history of two cities coming together – North and South – and the community’s connection to the railroad and the commercial growth opportunities it provided.

Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, the Jefferson Avenue Footbridge continues as a symbol of growth and opportunity today. Prior to its closure, the bridge served as a vital pedestrian and bicycle connection, linking the booming Commercial Street Historic District to the Woodland Heights Neighborhood and helping to spur growth of the Moon City Creative District across the tracks to the north.

Closure and Structural Evaluation

The Jefferson Avenue Footbridge was closed March 1, 2016 after Public Works inspectors found corrosion and steel loss in the north support column. Due to safety concerns, it was deemed in the public's best interest to close the bridge to conduct a full evaluation and determine repair options.

The City hired Great River Engineering (GRE) to conduct an in-depth structural evaluation of the bridge. GRE is a Springfield-based civil engineering firm that has rehabilitated several bridges in the region – Riverside Bridge and Mill Pond Bridge in Ozark, Devil's Elbow Bridge in Pulaski County and the Meramec River U.S. 66 Bridge in Eureka.