DECATUR, Ala. — We all know cities by their landmarks, and the "Steamboat Bill Memorial Bridge" that takes you into the city of Decatur will soon get a much-needed upgrade thanks to vote today by the city council.
A feasibility study is now underway and the city is seeking public comments.
" This is going to be one of the biggest things that's happened to the city in a very long time, in my opinion, " Pepper shares. The City of Decatur voted 4 to 1 today to begin the initial step in updating the Highway 31 bridge that has become the main access point between the city of Decatur and the rest of Alabama.
"The bridge coming into the carter is extremely outdated, " Pepper shares. "We got a $1 million grant, and the City of Decatur is going to match the 1-million-dollar grant with another million dollars so, it's going to cost about $2 million to get the study done."
Back in September, Decatur was awarded a $1 million grant to study and select a route for an additional Morgan County bridge over the Tennessee River. The Appalachian Regional Commission awarded the grant and the City Council voted 4-1 to accept it. Mayor Tab Bowling said TTL Inc., of Decatur, will conduct the study with Dewayne Hellums of the Decatur-area Metropolitan Planning Organization managing the project.
Traffic congestion at the 6th Avenue intersection has been a concern for many residents and Pepper says this bridge will seek to remedy that. "In that little area that has quite a bit of congestion in the afternoons about seven days a week," Pepper shares. "I mean, I receive calls quite often involving that intersection and how it causes traffic delays for miles and miles and miles."
With tourism growing in Decatur, an updated bridge means better access for all. Pepper says, "Access points are extremely important. So, we have I-65, which is right outside of right outside of the city here, it's not far down the road here. I-65 is a is a major interstate throughout the state of Alabama. Access points are extremely important because it creates an area to where we can create, I guess you could say, more economic development because that creates better projects."
There is no official word on when the study will begin or a timetable for the project. Check the City of Decatur's Facebook for more.