Oldest bridge in Florence to be replaced

FLORENCE -- Pedestrians use the narrow bridge over L&N Railroad on Hermitage Drive at their own peril.

Drivers of wide-bodied vehicles usually wait until the 184-foot bridge is clear before crossing it.

But that could change soon.

The city entered several agreements with the Alabama Department of Transportation last week to replace the 81-year-old bridge.

"It's functionally obsolete," said city engineer Bill Batson.

Batson said the process of replacing the bridge is at its earliest stages -- the new bridge has yet to be designed.

With engineering, purchasing some additional property and then construction, it will likely be next year before ground is broken on the project, Batson said.

Eighty percent of the bridge replacement is being paid by federal funds funneled through the state transportation department.

The city's portion of the $2 million project will come to $410,000.

Batson said the bridge would still be two lanes but would likely be wider outside the lanes of traffic to allow for bicycles and pedestrians.

The department of transportation is in the early stages of connecting Patton Island bridge to Helton Drive at Florence Boulevard.

But could motorists in Florence face heavy construction on Florence Boulevard and have a bridge out on Hermitage Drive, an alternate route, at the same time?

Batson said the timelines are too far out on both projects to coordinate now, but that likely won't be the case.

"The city doesn't want to close two main traffic corridors. And there's a lot of traffic over the Hermitage Drive bridge," he said.

Todd Twilley can be reached at 740-5728 or todd.twilley@timesdaily.com.