Plans for a proposed pedestrian bridge replacing the unusable historic green bridge will continue, despite complaints from some council members over its price and function.
The Waverly City Council agreed to go forward, on a 4-3 vote, with a feasibility study done by WHKS and Co. of Mason City at a cost of $67,900 to design and bid out a 12-foot steel truss trail bridge. Bids are expected to be let next spring.
The total cost of the pedestrian bridge, which was agreed upon at the council’s Sept. 11 meeting, will be $1.4 million. It will allow for pedestrian traffic only, though its weight will be able to support ambulances and small city trucks in case of emergencies.
Council candidates on the ballot in November also weighed in during public comments, with Ann Rathe noting the “vast majority of folks did not want a pedestrian bridge,” and Brian Birgen saying he hoped the council separated out the cost of demolishing the old bridge when bids were let.