New plan, location would cut cost of bridge in half

By Gwendylan Harmon Cassville Democrat Intern

A long-discussed plan for a pedestrian bridge in Cassville is once again moving forward, as city officials are revising plans aimed at reducing costs and improving accessibility for residents. 

The proposed bridge would cross over Flat Creek near Sale Barn Road.

Richard Asbill, Cassville city administrator, said the idea of improving pedestrian access across Flat Creek has been in discussion for more than two decades. The concept dates back roughly 22 years, but the pedestrian-only bridge itself has been more seriously considered over the past 6-7 years. 

Active work on the project, including planning, location evaluation and coordination with state agencies, has taken place within the last two years.

Asbill said the current iteration of the pedestrian bridge plan would put the structure near the former Designs by Debbie building and would cross Flat Creek, connecting both sides without requiring residents to use the Highway 76/112 vehicular bridge.

Currently, the project is undergoing review through the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). City officials are requesting that the bridge be moved from its originally planned location — on the other side of the vehicular bridge by the former pawn shop, to the new site.

“We’re in the process of sending it back through MoDOT review,” Asbill explained. “We want to move it from the planned location to a new location to reduce cost and make it more accessible.”

Cost has been one of the biggest challenges for the project. An earlier bid for construction came in at approximately $1.3 million, which the city determined it could not afford. Because of that, officials began exploring alternative locations.

“We’re looking at changing the location and scope, and how we can partner with MoDOT to accomplish the project,” Asbill said. “We believe we can take the project cost down to about 600,000.”

That figure represents the city’s target budget moving forward, although final costs will depend on the MoDOT review process, design revisions and future bidding.

In addition to lowering costs, accessibility remains a key component of the design. The pedestrian bridge is expected to accommodate a wide variety of users, including walkers, runners, families with strollers and cyclists. Plans also include a connection to the Greenway Trail, which city officials hope will encourage more recreational use.

The bridge would provide a direct pedestrian route across Flat Creek, eliminating the need to cross the Highway 76/112 vehicular bridge. Currently pedestrians who need to travel between the two sides must use the vehicular bridge, which can present safety concerns due to traffic flow and limited space.

“For as long as I’ve been in Cassville, pedestrians crossing the 76/112 bridge has been a difficult and challenging issue,” Asbill said. “Some people yield, some people don’t yield, and it makes traffic flow difficult. The bridges are not wide, and it doesn’t make oncoming traffic flow very good. The overall piece is safety.” 

By linking both sides of Flat Creek, the bridge would allow residents easier access to trails, neighborhoods and nearby amenities. Officials believe this improved access will encourage walking and biking while making travel between areas more convenient. City leaders believe the bridge could increase use of the trail and provide a more enjoyable experience for outdoor activities.

“We believe this will provide an excellent opportunity for people to utilize the Greenway Trail, as well as getting to the other side of the creek with very little obstruction,” Asbill said.

While the project planning is ongoing, no construction timeline has been finalized. The bridge must first complete the MoDOT review process before any final decisions can be made regarding design, funding and scheduling. Once that review is complete, the city will be able to move toward final plans and a future bid process.

Despite the remaining steps, city officials remain optimistic about the project’s potential impact. 

For now, the project remains in the planning and review stage, but city leaders say they are continuing to work toward making the pedestrian bridge a reality.