Covington is considering converting the old 15th Street Bridge, which has been closed to foot and vehicle traffic for years, into a mixed-use and pedestrian bike bridge.
The conversion would happen thanks to grants from the federally funded Off-System Bridge Program.
City Manager Ken Smith discussed the award at the city commission meeting on Tuesday. No official action took place at the meeting, and the planning is still very early phase: The award is for up to $2.25 million, but the actual amount granted to the city will correspond to the actual cost it takes to rehab the bridge. Bidding has not yet begun.
The bridge traverses a railroad. Although it carried vehicle traffic at one point, to bring it up to modern standard would require the demolition of nearby historic properties, Smith said, an expense the city isn’t prepared to meet. As a result, the best alternative would be to convert the bridge into one used exclusively for bike and pedestrian traffic.
“If you’re a pedestrian, not being able to get across the 15th Street bridge would be problematic,” Smith said.
The commission will revisit the issue in future meetings.
