Fox Point Village Board Creeping Toward Decision on Footbridge

For nearly a year now, the fate of the Bridge Lane Ravine Footbridge has been a hot topic among Fox Point officials and residents alike.

But as the bridge continues to deteriorate, the message from residents is no longer simply "save our bridge." Some are saying "save our trees," and asking tough questions about the ramifications of replacing or removing the bridge, which has been closed since October for safety reasons.

That became apparent at a Village Board meeting last week in which Chris McMahon of Ayres Associates, the consultant hired to come up with options for the bridge, gave a presentation on the bridge.

In the past, the most vocal residents have been those who lobbied the board to preserve the bridge. But at Tuesday's meeting, other issues surfaced.

"What are the hidden damages to residents?" asked resident Mary Connelly.

Regardless of whether the village razes the bridge, repairs it or builds a new one, there will be some headaches for residents who live nearby.

McMahon said pile drivers that would be used during construction could cause some vibrations in the area, although sensors would be set up around homes to monitor the level of those vibrations.

Truck traffic and the inconvenience of construction also could pose problems for neighbors, McMahon said.

Scott Brandmeier, village engineer and director of public works, said some driveways might also have to be rerouted, but all those factors will be taken into consideration before the village decides the fate of the bridge.

“What the board will need to consider is what will be lost, disruption and time,” Village President Michael West said. “It all weighs in the balance. It’s too big a deal to make quick decisions.”

McMahon said in his report that costs associated with any action on the bridge range from $130,000 to demolish it to $1.57 million to repair it. Replacing the bridge with a new structure would cost just more than $1 million.

Resident Cissy Bryson has property along the parcel where the bridge is located.

"So it's $130,000 to drop it, but what are we going to do, blow it up?" she asked.

McMahon explained that contractors would probably use a crane and wrecking ball. He also said that to disassemble the bridge would take twice as long, "if you don't care about saving it."

Some residents also were concerned about the trees that would be lost in the process of work on the bridge.

The bridge has been in Fox Point for perhaps as long as 100 years – no one seems to agree on exactly when it was built – and some of the surrounding trees have been there even longer.

Regardless of what option the board decides upon, large-scale heavy machinery would be needed to do the work. To get that machinery to the edge of and down into the narrow ravine would require removing many of the trees that attract residents to the bridge.

McMahon explained the restoration efforts would only allow for 6-foot-tall saplings to be planted, which means it would take decades for new trees to reach the height of the trees that would need to be removed.

“I don’t want these trees to come down,” resident James Connelly said. “People come here for the trees.

“To have it all ripped out again would be unbelievable.”

But while some residents were more concerned about the ramifications rebuilding or razing the bridge, others made it clear that they want to see the bridge rebuilt so it can be enjoyed for years to come.

“It’s been a beautiful winter, but it’s a shame we weren’t able to take full advantage of what the village has to offer,” said resident Carl Schwartz, referring to the fact that the bridge has been closed for months.

Another Fox Point resident, Linda Gale Sampson, also showed her support for the bridge.

“I want to see it replaced with a brand new bridge, so it’s strong and can live another 100 years,” Sampson said.

One topic that was barely mentioned Tuesday was the prospect of the community raising funds to replace the bridge with a new one.

, the city has put $550,000 in its capital budget to replace the bridge but wants supporters of the bridge to raise at least that much more through private donations. So far, no private fundraising effort has taken hold.

West said that he did have a meeting with Fox Point Foundation and the village may hold a special meeting in April to further discuss funding efforts.