Gold Star Bridge sidewalk reopens
Aug. 29—The pedestrian and bike path on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge has reopened, after the final parts of the sidewalk repair project were completed Monday.
The state Department of Transportation announced in a news release that the sidewalk, which has remained closed since an April crash on the southbound span of the bridge, opened at 4 p.m. Monday.
DOT Spokesman Josh Morgan said in a phone interview that repairs to the sidewalk and fencing were completed last week, but the DOT had been waiting for the arrival of two replacement light poles to reopen the path.
Morgan said an approximately 500-foot section of sidewalk lacked adequate illumination for daybreak and nighttime hours, so it was unsafe to have the path open until the lighting was installed.
Morgan said that over the weekend the DOT came up with the idea to borrow light poles slated for other projects and install them on the bridge. The DOT confirmed that it was fine to wait for new parts to arrive for the other projects, and the DOT installed the lights on Monday.
Traffic barrels continue to close off the far right lane and shoulder next to the sidewalk on the southbound span.
Morgan said crews will finish repairs and the area will be paved in two or three weeks. Paving work will be completed at night.
The DOT in the release reminded drivers "to slow down and pay attention in work zones."
The free shuttle bus which takes people over the bridge, which has been in operation since May, will continue to run through the end of the day Friday to give people a chance to adjust and get back to the routines they had before the sidewalk was closed, Morgan said.
Ridership on the shuttle bus started at 44 passengers the first week and grew to a peak of 139 passengers the week of July 24-30.
