A deteriorating bridge serving as a direct connection between Greenville’s Southernside and West Greenville neighborhoods will be replaced.
Queen Street bridge was constructed in 1927 and crosses over the Norfolk Southern rail line. The city of Greenville is spearheading an effort to replace the bridge, which is owned by the railroad company. City engineers are in the final stages of completing a feasibility study on the bridge.
Clint Link, director of engineering services, explained the bridge has many maintenance and structural deficiencies. It also features a low load restriction, prohibiting emergency vehicles, trucks and school buses from using the bridge.
“Through the study, we’ve determined it’s a complete replacement,” Link said. “Replacing it would certainly improve access to these neighborhoods and just connectivity in general.”
The city hired a consultant firm, Mead and Hunt, to help design alignment options for a new bridge. Two options have been released, each featuring 10-foot sidewalks and a custom metal safety fence. Both designs would also increase the bridge’s height to meet current rail line standards and turn Gates Street into a cul-du-sac.
The first design option includes building a new bridge next to the existing structure and extending Queen Street to intersect with Willard Street. Cain Street would be converted to a cul-de-sac. The other option would construct a new, realigned bridge without extending Queen Street.
According to the city, the cost and construction timeline of both options are the same. The construction project is estimated to cost between $5 million to $6 million to complete. Link explained they are currently exploring funding options that will be needed for the project’s engineering design and construction stages.
“We’re going to be looking for some partnerships, some grant opportunities to help us get the project done,” Link said. “This is a project that has been identified on the Greenville County’s capital project sales tax program. So we would love to see that passed and this project get funded through that.”
The city is currently collecting public feedback to determine which option should be selected. The public is invited to submit their comments before Oct. 31 on the city’s website at greenvillesc.gov/2403/Queen-Street-Bridge-Replacement.
