Efforts to gain access to the riverfront in Jefferson City may have picked up steam thanks to an agreement with the railroad and a benefactor's generous pledge.
Union Pacific Railroad has given its approval for a bridge to be built over its tracks, connecting Adrian's Island to the Capital City, and a benefactor has pledged $1 million to developing the 30-acre peninsula, according to Chamber of Commerce officials.
Randy Allen, president and chief executive officer of the Jefferson City Area Chamber of Commerce, and Bob Gilbert, a senior engineer at the Jefferson City firm Bartlett & West, said Friday the project, now being called the Veterans Walk to Riverfront Park, will feature an 828.6-foot bridge that would offer seven overlooks of the riverfront and the Capitol. At its highest point, the span will rise 25.6 feet above the six-track Union Pacific yards below.
The bridge will begin at the juncture of the Senate parking garage and the Veterans Memorial. There will be a network of bikeways and walking and jogging trails, also ideal for bird-watchers and others keen on photographing the flora and fauna from above.
When all of the expenses are totaled, Allen and Gilbert said Friday, the project should represent a $2.99 million engineering feat. They confirmed Friday benefactor B.J. DeLong had pledged $1 million to the project. Previously, she had committed $50,000 to preliminary design work for the project.
More than 70 percent of the funding comes from private donations for dedicated funds approved by voters. The local match accounts for about $2.27 million.
Allen and Gilbert on Friday said the city and chamber are preparing a $400,000 grant application for Missouri Department of Transportation funding under the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP).
Travis Koestner, MoDOT deputy district engineer, said the Adrian's Island project would be competing with four other regional planning commissions for funding.
"This is a really good project, and the TAP is the right avenue for the city to follow in seeking funding to start and finish the project," he said.
The city will submit the TAP grant application by Nov. 1 and will know its fate in January, Koestner said. If Jefferson City is successful with the grant, bids could be let in February 2017.
A month ago, Allen, Gilbert, Mayor Carrie Tergin and other stakeholders were anticipating a major grant from the Missouri Moves program at MoDOT. But those hopes evaporated when Gov. Jay Nixon withheld all Missouri Moves grants after funding bills he had vetoed were overridden by the General Assembly.
Previous coverage:
Adrian's Island riverfront project moving forward, July 24, 2016
Officials don't see flooding at Adrian's Island as development killer, Jan. 24, 2016
Latest plan buoys Adrian's Island, Dec. 27, 2015
Adrian's Island planning moves forward, Dec. 6, 2015
Are further funds needed if riverfront project moves forward?, Aug. 23, 2015
Benefactor's interest in riverfront access pushes idea back to forefront, Aug. 9, 2015
Chamber taking lead on southern riverfront access, July 26, 2015
Talk resurfaces about south riverwalk, July 19, 2015