Tuesday, May 18, 1999
Bellevue will renovate bridge
Walkway evokes fond memories
BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
BELLEVUE — For years, Bellevue residents have had memories of first dates and walking to school on a pedestrian bridge over the CSX railroad tracks.
For years to come, they can have more.
Gov. Paul Patton announced Monday that the City of Bellevue will receive a state transportation grant of $160,500 to renovate the bridge that was built about a century ago and acquire the cast-iron and wood structure from CSX.
The railroad company closed the pedestrian bridge, which connects this city's north and south ends, about two years ago because it was in disrepair and unsafe.
The bridge, which has rotted wood, runs over Van Voast Avenue, between Poplar and Center streets. CSX has removed its stairs and put up a chain-link barrier.
“Even though it's a small little bridge, it's worthy to be saved,” Mayor Tom Wiethorn said. “We're pleased that it gets to stay in Bellevue. (But) in its current state, it's a pretty big blight. It looks a mess.”
CSX plans to donate the bridge to Bellevue now that the city has received the grant. If Gov. Patton had not approved the grant, the railroad company was planning to dismantle the bridge this summer.
But now, summer will mark the start of bridge reconstruction. The existing wood will have to be replaced, steel will have to be scraped and new decking will be needed, but City Manager Don Martin said the project should take six months to be complete.
He said the renovated bridge will improve the neighborhood's appearance and decrease the need for people to get into their cars to cross the one-square-mile town.
Meanwhile, Mayor Wiethorn said he never thought about saving the bridge until Bellevue resident Marcy Ackerson approached him. He remembers that she stressed what the bridge had historical value to the city.
He called Ms. Ackerson on Friday to say that her wish probably would come true.
“That was great news,” the 35-year-old woman said Monday. She lives on the south end of the bridge and, when she learned that CSX wanted to close it, she talked to her neighbors to get their opinions.
She recalled that they shared many joyful memories of the bridge, which young Bellevue residents once traveled to get to the former Poplar Street Elementary School. The former school site is where Bellevue city offices are now located.
“I had been hoping (for this) for a long time,” she said.
The City of Bellevue will match the grant amount by 20 percent — or about $32,000, boosting the total renovation and acquisition project to about $192,500.
Mayor Wiethorn also plans to seek donations so that electrical lights, additional planters and some special architectural touches can be added to the bridge.
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