HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Development of new greenway, parks, the skybridge, and pedestrian bridges along Pinhook Creek in Huntsville is closer to becoming reality as design contracts were approved at Thursday's City Council meeting.
Plans for the Pedestrian Access and Redevelopment Corridor (PARC) are moving ahead following approval at Thursday’s City Council meeting of engineering design contracts associated that meet state and federal grant requirements.
A $1,929,000 contract with Rosales + Partners will finalize plans for the cable suspension bridge across Memorial Parkway. The contract scope includes permitting, testing, specifications, details and peer review.
A $999,978 contract with Garver LLC will outline plans for Pinhook Creek channel improvements. The contract scope includes permitting, structural design, hardscape and landscape features.
The City has previously received two Federal Highway Administration grants totaling $47.3 million to help fund the project. The State of Alabama also provided $5 million. Components of the PARC project include:
- 1.2 miles of linear park space
- 5,600 feet of Pinhook Creek channel excavation
- 3,200 feet of low-flow channel along Pinhook Creek
- 6,000 linear feet of greenway
- Three precast pedestrian bridges over Pinhook Creek
- One concrete railroad bridge replacing the wooden bridge adjacent to Heart of Huntsville Drive
- 1,400 feet of pedestrian cable suspension bridge
The two-year construction project will be completed in four phases with the Pinhook Creek flood mitigation improvements expected to begin by the end of the year.
“This is a necessary procedural step in the project, and we are excited to start construction soon,” Director of Urban & Economic Development Shane Davis said. “This is a transformational project that meets the infrastructure demands of a growing city.”