‘Skybridge’ project now scheduled to break ground this summer

Among the new construction projects discussed for the Huntsville area recently, the new pedestrian walkway — better known among locals as the “SkyBridge” project — has been probably sparked the most conversation.

The $62 million project is a multimodal pedestrian access and redevelopment corridor, or PARC, and construction is set to begin in August.

Next steps for the ‘Skybridge’

The PARC project was originally floated nearly two decades ago as a flood mitigation effort to reduce the floodplains along Pinhook Creek through the downtown core as well as address pedestrian access. So reducing the floodplains is as much of a benefit of the project as the bridge itself.

This project was made possible by a $20 million Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for the project.

According to Shane Davis — Huntsville’s director of Urban and Economic Development — his team is still ironing out some particulars before ground is broken.

“Our team is working on final construction plan and specification clean-up items, along with our final approval documents with FHWA.  Our current schedule is to begin construction in late Summer, an August timeline.

Shane Davis, Huntsville’s director of Urban and Economic Development

Details on the project

In case you are new to the projects news, here’s a little refresher:

• It identifies vital greenway connections that make up the Greenway Master Plan.
• It fills gaps in downtown bike connections included in the City’s Bikeway Plan.
• PARC would also provide an economic boost to low-income communities by connecting nearly 5,000 people living within a half-mile radius to vital health care and jobs. The City estimates about 22% of those residents live in public housing and more than 26% do not have access to a vehicle.
• The project will replace the old wooden railroad bridge built in 1939 with a concrete Class I bridge.
• PARC would also allow the City to create new linear parks, landscaping and hardscapes. New retaining walls would also stop erosion near the Von Braun Center.

Construction in the Rocket City

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