Madison
Riverfront
City
of Madison secures stimulus
funds for the riverfront project
Steel
pilings, tie rods to shore up
eroding bank along sidewalk
By
Konnie McCollum
Staff Writer
The earth stabilization phase of the Madison Riverfront
Development Project will finally get under way thanks to federal stimulus
money secured by Mayor Tim Armstrongs Administration.
 |
Photo
by Don Ward
The
last phase of the Madison
Riverfront Development project included
the addition of paddlewheel overlooks.
|
A grant totaling $837,000 was approved in December for
the stabilization plans, which were part of the original design plan
for the project. Erosion has damaged the bank just east of the point
at Lamplighter Park. Budgeting issues forced the Madison Riverfront
Development Committee to temporarily set aside the stabilization.
Part of the conditions for this money was that projects were design-ready
and sitting on a shelf waiting to go, said committee chairman
Jim Pruett. Mayor Armstrong jumped on the chance to get this money,
and we are thrilled the project will be completed.
During the construction phase, part of the sidewalk will have to be
torn up and replaced. Engineers are working to time so as not to interfere
with the many festivals held at the riverfront, officials said.
Horizontal steel pilings, called deadmen, will be placed just north
of where the existing sidewalk is situated. A sheet pile wall will then
be anchored to the deadmen with tie rods. The steel support system should
shore up and help reduce further erosion. Currently, large rocks and
steel piping line the area, making it aesthetically unappealing.
Once we get the stabilization done, we plan to continue our efforts
to improve the riverfront for our community, said Pruett.
In the last phase of the $1 million project, which has been ongoing
for years, two paddlewheel overlooks made of concrete and red bricks
were added to the sidewalk just east of the Milton-Madison Bridge and
to the west at Vernon Street. The sidewalk was also extended eastward
to the volleyball courts and westward to tie into the trailhead of the
Heritage Trail.
We are excited about what has been completed, said Jim Pruett,
project president. The grants we used for the funding moved the
process slower than what some people wanted, but we are happy with the
results.
Back to January 2010
Articles.