A new phase of work for a short extension of the Riverwalk is in progress.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation is working on a roughly 1,000-foot extension that begins at the 2.2-mile point on the trail to bring it to the other side of the Terry W. Brown Memorial Bridge on Highway 82.
The Riverwalk currently runs about 2.2 miles from Riverside Park to the south side of the Terry Brown Memorial Bridge on Highway 82. MDOT’s construction will bring the trail to the north side of the bridge, said Columbus City Engineer and Neel-Schaffer Vice President Kevin Stafford.
MDOT Commissioner for the North District Mike Tagert said the department volunteered to fund and oversee the extension’s construction since it passes through state right-of-way.
“It was simpler and easier from an engineering standpoint for us to handle that for the city,” he said.
Tagert said the construction will cost about $200,000. The project is scheduled for a Nov. 14 completion date, though Tagert said it should be done well before then if work maintains its current pace.
“We’ve got the base complete,” he said. “Within the next few days we’ll begin to pour concrete and will continue to place the conduit for lighting as we go.”
Stafford said more work on the Riverwalk will begin, depending on funding, after MDOT completes its extension.
The city has requested $5 million from the Legislature for the Riverwalk extension, which is still planned to extend another 14 miles to Columbus Air Force Base. So far, the Legislature has committed a total of $3.35 million through two legislative sessions toward the project.
The planned multi-use path would provide walkability and bikability, as well as recreation stations along the route.
For now, Stafford said he will need to meet with the Riverwalk steering committee to determine how to proceed with the project. He said it’s still uncertain what exact path the Riverwalk will take to reach CAFB due to different land ownership and terrain challenges.
“What’s happened is we’ve done the preliminary master plan and sent it to the (Army Corps of Engineers),” he said. “We’ve said, ‘Here’s our 30,000-foot view of where we’d like this to go.’ They’ve given us the ins and outs of where they’d like us to be.”
Stafford said the committee can use the Corps’ information to consider which priorities to take first in a phased approach. He said it’s possible the path could continue north toward the base, or that construction could begin at the base and push south so the two ends meet in the middle.
When, or how much of the Riverwalk is completed, will ultimately depend on funding. More funding requests to the Legislature are likely, and Stafford said the committee could consider additional avenues, such as grants from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, or federal grants distributed through MDOT.
“Everything is dependent on funding,” he said.
Alex Holloway was formerly a reporter with The Dispatch.
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