City of Tuscaloosa allocates $1.5 million for pedestrian bridge renovations

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (WIAT) -- The city of Tuscaloosa allocated $1.5 million for renovations on the Veterans Memorial Parkway pedestrian bridge.

Initially, the pedestrian bridge was deemed unsafe by city officials, who considered demolishing the bridge for $700,000, Tuscaloosa City Council President Kip Tyner said.

“The majority felt like this was worth saving,” Tyner said.

Tyner said in May he felt confident the city council would approve a budget that included bridge repair costs. The bridge is located over Veterans Memorial Parkway near the Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

“I’m happy,” Tuscaloosa resident Lee Overstreet said. “It’s nice to see that it has been put into words, in a budget. There are numbers on a spreadsheet.”

Overstreet was a part of "Save the Bridge" demonstrations in