After some last-minute funding maneuvers, the city of Charleston, S.C., approved the terms of a construction contract for a long-awaited bike and pedestrian bridge connecting downtown and the scenic West Ashley district.
It now awaits federal approval before Mayor John Tecklenburg can sign off on it and work can begin.
The Ashley River Crossing is a separated bike path and stand-alone bridge that promises to enhance the connectivity of Charleston's metro area, according to the city's online project page. It will tie to the end of the West Ashley Greenway and connect to downtown when its construction is completed.
The bridge's design work is expected to take about a year, while construction will likely last for three years, said Jason Kronsberg, Charleston's parks director and the project manager for the effort.
He added that there should only be minor disruptions to road and boat traffic during the work. Beginning at the existing West Ashley Greenway on the west side of the river, the new structure will cross the Ashley just south of the U.S. Highway 17 vehicular bridges.
In addition to the bridge, improvements will be made at key intersections along the West Ashley Greenway and at the Bee Street and Lockwood Drive intersection on the Charleston Peninsula.
Several Factors Led to Bridge's Higher Cost
The Post and Courier reported Sept. 27 that as construction firms submitted proposals for the project this summer, local leaders became aware that their most recent cost projections were insufficient.
That is when the estimate ballooned from $42 million about a year ago to about $74 million now, the Charleston newspaper noted. As a result, city officials had to secure more funding from county, state and federal agencies. In addition to dipping into the city's hospitality tax funds, the Medical University of South Carolina chipped in too.
In total, the city's contribution to the project via hospitality tax funds stands at $13 million.
Construction bidders attributed the higher-than-expected cost projections to rising interest rates, as well as increased labor and material costs. The winning bid came in at $73.8 million.
City leaders had considered scaling the project back when the new estimates were calculated but Councilman Mike Seekings said South Carolina Transportation Secretary Christy Hall was determined to find additional help from all levels of government to bring the project across the finish line.
"Secretary Hall put her money where her mouth is," he told the Post and Courier.
With Hall's help securing an additional $30 million committed from various agencies, the city was able to move forward by signing a contract with Superior Construction, a Midwest and Southeast heavy civil firm with an office in North Charleston.
The Charleston City Council voted 11-1 on Sept. 26 to authorize the mayor to sign off on the contract once it gets approval from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Council member Caroline Parker voted against the authorization and Councilman William Dudley Gregorie was absent.
If all goes according to plan, the contract will be sealed within a few weeks and design work can begin, the Charleston news outlet learned. Inking the contract locks down a "guaranteed maximum price" from the contractor, which can only fluctuate within a certain percentage of the total project cost. Any additional overruns would need special approval from the city council.
Despite the cost estimate struggles, Charleston officials struck an optimistic tone, telling the Post and Courier the project will be transformative for the city.
"It's a game changer," Kronsberg said. "It's a significant infrastructure project that will be just as successful as the Ravenel Bridge bike and pedestrian lane [across the Cooper River] when it was first implemented. If you build it, they will come."
Council member Peter Shahid, who is running for mayor, said the project is not only a recreational amenity but also an important piece of the city's transportation network. It would provide commuters who travel on foot or ride bikes a safe crossing to the city's employment hub and also could relieve some traffic on the existing vehicular bridges in the same area.
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