'Skybridge' part of PARC funds approved by City of Huntsville

The Huntsville City Council last week approved access to funds for the Pinook Creek Pedestrian Access and Redevelopment Corridor project, which includes the proposed “skybridge” pedestrian walkway over Memorial Parkway.

Here’s the latest:

‘Skybridge’ just one element to the PARC project

The City entered into an agreement with the Federal Highway Administration and the Alabama Department of Transportation to receive $47.3 million in two federal grants for the Pedestrian Access and Redevelopment Corridor (PARC) project.

The grants were previously awarded to the City, but the ALDOT agreement provides the mechanism to access these funds.

The element of the project that has most Huntsville residents buzzing is what has been dubbed the “skybridge” joining the Lowe Mill area with downtown via a pedestrian walkway. But that is only part of the project.

Components of the PARC project include:

1.2 miles of linear park space
5,600 feet of Pinhook Creek channel excavation
3,200 feet of low-flow channel along Pinhook Creek
6,000 linear feet of greenway
Three precast pedestrian bridges over Pinhook Creek
One concrete railroad bridge replacing the wooden bridge adjacent to Heart of Huntsville Drive
1,400 feet of pedestrian cable suspension bridge

‘Happy to move closer to a start date’

The City of Huntsville will immediately begin working to finalize and update the construction plans to prepare the project permitting and bidding. The project will be constructed in four phases.

The first phase of project will be the Pinhook Creek improvements with work projected to begin by the end of the year. Construction is expected to take 24 months to complete.

“There are many elements to this project, and we are happy to move closer to a start date. In particular, the flood mitigation measures have been studied for decades and are a critical issue to be addressed. The City would also like to thank State Rep. Rex Reynolds and the State of Alabama in providing $5 million toward the project. Their awareness of flooding issues in the area and their willingness to help is greatly appreciated.”
Shane Davis, Director of Urban & Economic Development

Davis said earlier in the year that construction would hopefully begin by August.

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