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Gadsden Council accepts $690,000 Innovate Alabama grant to plan pedestrian bridge across Coosa River
Summary
The Gadsden City Council voted June 8 to accept a $690,000 Innovate Alabama grant to plan and engineer a pedestrian bridge across the Coosa River and amended the FY2026 budget to receive the funds. Officials said the bridge is part of a broader riverfront master plan and will allow boats to pass beneath it.
The Gadsden City Council on June 8 authorized acceptance of a $690,000 Innovate Alabama grant to plan and engineer a pedestrian bridge across the Coosa River and adopted an ordinance amending the FY2026 budget to receive the funds.
Council members said the bridge is part of the city’s Grow Gadsden/RISE riverfront master plan and would connect a proposed hotel and convention center precinct with the riverfront amenities. "This will allow us to realize that vision," a council member said during discussion, noting the project is intended to be navigable for nearly all boats.
City staff explained the grant will fund planning and engineering work rather than construction. Council discussion emphasized that the structure will be designed to allow most vessels to pass underneath and that the bridge is intended to enhance riverfront businesses and pedestrian access. The council moved and adopted the resolution accepting the Innovate Alabama funds and the companion ordinance to amend the fiscal year budget by voice vote.
Council members also noted the city will continue work on ongoing riverfront amenities and that the bridge would be the sixth crossing of the Coosa River in Gadsden. The city did not provide a design timeline or a construction cost estimate at the meeting; those details are to be developed in the planning phase funded by the grant.
Next steps: staff will proceed with planning and engineering using Innovate Alabama funds and report back with design details and any recommended construction timelines and cost estimates once planning is complete.
