Eric posted some info the other day on XING Columbus about the new Rich St. Bridge. Even though that is just a tiny picture, I can’t say I’m too impressed with the design. As Eric mentions, the estimated cost is $42 million. The crazy new Main St. Bridge is $44 million and it’s a one-of-a-kind unique design.
I think we’re getting ripped off on Rich St.
Last I heard, Town St. was going to get a separate pedestrian bridge. Which would be totally awesome if they re-open Town Street through the City Center as a pedestrian walkway and convert Town between the two into a pedestrian-friendly zone. Something like that would really add a unique flavor to the RiverSouth area that currently isn’t much more than a couple of one-way streets where cars drive 45 miles per hour and a whole lot of parking lots.
Someone must have forgotten that our water is brown…not crystal blue.
I wonder why we keep building bridges to nowhere. Spend 42m on a transit center, or a park, or an observatory – something that creates civic value.
I couldn’t agree more. Why do we need three expensive bridges connecting Downtown Columbus to basically nowhere all within a quarter mile of each other????
Seems like we should be able to live with two bridges for now and just rip out the third. The $40+ million could then be allocated to something that we really need right now. If Fanklinton ever comes around and additional bridges are needed, well……”we can cross that bridge when we come to it.”
I think Franklinton is perfectly posed to become something worth building a bridge to. And while planning for the future is a good thing, I agree with you both… it’s too much money to spend right now.
If anything perhaps a pedestrian/bike bridge to connect Franklinton to the Arena District would be nice as Franklinton starts to develop. These two locations are right next door, but you’ve got to drive WAY around to get back and forth between them.