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Council funds repairs to Napony Street pedestrian bridge, city plans 3–5 year extension before replacement
Summary
Council approved $337,230 to repair the Napony Street pedestrian bridge; Public Works Director Jeff Schaefer said the repairs are intended to extend the structure for roughly 3–5 years while the city designs and funds a replacement, with inspections every three months.
Elkhart City Council voted to remove Proposed Ordinance 26-20-R from the table and appropriate $337,230 from the general fund for repairs to the Napony Street pedestrian bridge.
Jeff Schaefer, director of public works, told the council the planned repairs this summer are intended to buy roughly three to five years so staff can properly design and fund a replacement bridge. “The repair we'll do this summer is intended to give us enough time to properly design and fund a potential replacement bridge,” Jeff Schaefer (Director of Public Works) said.
Schaefer said the city will continue inspections every three months (performed by Loch Mueller) and that pedestrian-impacting work will be completed before the start of school. Work will be phased to allow lanes to remain open in part; the bridge itself will remain in place and be cleaned and painted, with alternating lane closures to avoid a full shutdown.
Council approved the appropriation by roll-call vote (recorded as 9–0). No members of the public spoke during the hearing. The council did not adopt a replacement schedule or funding source beyond the repair appropriation; staff said they will issue a notice to proceed and expect construction to begin mid-month pending contract award.
