For almost five years, Fayetteville officials have wanted a Fayetteville pedestrian bridge to cross Ga. Highway 54 near Piedmont Fayette Hospital.
Thursday night, the vision moved closer to fruition as the City Council unanimously voted to approve a $169,000 engineering contract for right of way and construction. The bridge would span the state highway just west of the hospital, and ultimately connect to the city’s pedestrian path on Lester Road. Economic Development Director Brian Wismer estimated the bridge would be completed in fall or winter of 2018.
Construction costs for the bridge are estimated at $3 million, but the city is in line to get a federal grant to cut the costs. If the grant is obtained, the city would be on the hook for a total of $600,000, which would be paid for by SPLOST funds, if the SPLOST vote is succesful in March. If the voters refuse SPLOST, city officials said the funds would come from other sources.
